KHSAA Hall of Fame coach John D. Wilson, who turned Red Bird Christian School’s boys’ basketball program into a 13th Region contender in the late 1990s, passed away today at the age of 84 years-old.
“Coach Wilson was of the highest quality you can ask for in a leader,” former Red Bird Christian basketball player, and graduate Jon North said. “There was no task that was above him. While serving as coach, he was also athletic director. I’ve watched him stock concessions, make chili, pop popcorn, make hotdogs, sweep the floor, lay out uniforms, all before another team arrived before a home game. He was the same administrator as the kid who would hitch hike across Pine Mountain so that he would never miss a practice or a game.
“I will never forget the passion he poured into coaching,” he added. “I’ve watched him drive out of the way for hours to take his players home who may not have rides, sometimes making multiple trips from the gym and back if the weather was bad.
He made us all be so proud to be from Red Bird, a banner alumni still wear with pride because of him.”
Wilson was born in Wallins Creek, and received his formative education at Green Hills, a two-room school covering grades 1-6, in Bledsoe.
He attended Beech Fork, a three-room school with grades 7 and 8, in Leslie County before graduating from Loyall High School in Harlan County in 1956. Wilson participated in each sport offered at the time he was in high school. He played centerfield in baseball, guard in basketball and running back and linebacker in football. He never missed a practice in high school and had to hitch-hike home across Pine Mountain following team practices, a testament to the character he instilled in his players and coaches.
He was the first basketball coach and started teams at Green Hills (1958), Pine Mountain Settlement School (1960), and Red Bird Christian School (1988).
When Wilson arrived at Green Hills and Pine Mountain there were only outside basketball courts. He built indoor facilities for both schools.
Wilson’s teaching career covered 21 years in Harlan County, nine years in Webster County, and 25 years at Red Bird Christian School where he served as Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.
At the elementary and junior high level, Wilson’s coaching record was 280-60 with eight county championships.
At the high school division his coaching record stands at 554-369.
His Loyall basketball team won the Kentucky Junior High School Championship in 1974 while earning a trip to the National Junior High School Tournament. Wilson was also featured in a basketball documentary on ESPN.
As a coach and teacher, Wilson had been honored to receive more than forty plaques, certificates and awards.
In 2009, he was inducted into the University of the Cumberlands Hall of Fame, and in 2013, Wilson was inducted into the KHSAA Hall of Fame.
Note: The University of the Cumberlands contributed to this story.
