Ken Shaw’s passed a lot of milestones in just over four decades of coaching boys basketball in Colorado and he reached one of the rarest benchmarks Jan. 5.
With his Regis Jesuit team’s 66-60 spirited win over defending Class 5A state champion and previously undefeated Overland in front of a packed house in the Guy Gibbs Gymnasium, Shaw got career win No. 700.
According to the Colorado High School Activities Association’s online records, Shaw —who is now 700-225 — ranks third on the state’s all-time wins list behind retired Denver Christian coach Dick Katte (876) and current Denver East coach Rudy Carey (764). As always, Shaw spread the credit out for the achievement.
“I know it’s with my name, but that represents a whole lot of players and coaches for 41 years,” a reflective Shaw said. “There have been a lot of people that I’ve worked with over the years and all of them share in that.
“It’s pretty emotional when you think back on it. I’ve been at this a long time and I’ve been pretty blessed.”
Regis Jesuit athletic director Kelly Doherty said the school plans to present Shaw with a commemorative ball signifying the 700th victory prior to the tip-off of the next home game, a 7 p.m. contest against Fossil Ridge on Jan. 9.
After previous stops at Yuma and Sterling — where he won state championships with each school — Shaw coached at Rocky Mountain before arriving in Aurora at Smoky Hill in 2002. He moved over to Regis Jesuit in 2007, where he’s won three state titles.
A whole lot of wins for Shaw have come in his stops in Aurora, which was where he picked up a number of milestone victories. Shaw coached at Smoky Hill from 2002-2007 and picked up 82 victories, including career win No. 500 on Jan. 12, 2007, against Mullen.
Shaw picked up win No. 600 on Feb. 8, 2011, with a 94-39 rout of Heritage in his fourth season at Regis Jesuit. With his last win, Shaw is 188-32 in eight-plus season with the Raiders.
Regis Jesuit senior Gage Dyer has a unique perspective as he’s played for Shaw as did his older brother Drew, who helped the Raiders win three straight 5A state championships between 2008-11.
“He’s the greatest coach ever; my brother plays college basketball now and he still says Coach Shaw is the best coach he’s ever had,” Dyer said. “With him at the helm, we’re always going to be there and win. We listen to what he says and absorb it. He wins so much, so why would you ever deny that?”
Added senior Dante Drennan: “I’m glad I was a part of helping him get a couple of wins. It’s an amazing accomplishment and he deserves it. He’s always there for the players and we all do whatever he says because it works.”
Making the milestone more special was the familiar faces Shaw saw in the crowd, among them former Regis Jesuit player Chris Lesnansky, former Smoky Hill star Josh Cassaday and one of his former players from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins.
“I’ll hear from more guys in the next few days who were all special,” Shaw said.
Next among Aurora boys basketball coaches in all-time wins according to CHSAA records is former Aurora Central coach Bob Caton, who amassed a 506-203 record at six stops before retiring in 2015 at Highlands Ranch.
Current Vista PEAK and former Grandview coach Gary Childress, who is with his fifth program, ranks No. 13 on the all-time list at 479-311 including the Bison’s 6-3 mark thus far this season. Rangeview’s original coach, Terry Taylor Sr., won 422 games and sits 18th.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
KEN SHAW’S COACHING RECORD IN AURORA
SMOKY HILL (82-39)
2002-03: 7-13 (lost 1st round of 5A playoffs); 2003-04: 15-7 (lost in 3rd round of 5A playoffs); 2004-05: 17-9 (lost in 3rd round of 5A playoffs); 2005-06: 21-6 (lost in 5A semifinals); 2006-07: 22-4 (lost in 5A Sweet 16)
REGIS JESUIT (188-32)
2007-08: 19-8 (lost in Great 8 of 5A playoffs); 2008-09: 26-2 (won 5A state championship); 2009-10: 27-1 (won 5A state championship); 2010-11: 24-5 (won 5A state championship); 2011-12: 20-4 (lost in 2nd round of 5A playoffs); 2012-13: 21-5 (lost in Great 8 of 5A playoffs); 2013-14: 20-4 (lost in 2nd round of 5A playoffs); 2014-15: 23-3 (lost in Great 8 of 5A playoffs); 2015-16: 8-0 (to be determined)