Julie Matheny retires after 33 years as coach with St. Joseph's girls basketball program (2024)

Julie Matheny can't remember the exact details.

The St. Joseph's Academy basketball coach has had thousands of such moments during her 33-year run as coach of one of Missouri's most successful girls basketball programs.

Yet the incident still remains firm in the mind of former Angels guard Kelsey Luna, now a 36-year-old author and mother of five living in Dallas.

Now known by her married name of Kelsey Gillespy, she recalled the anxiety she felt while attending a summer camp at the Frontenac school as a sixth grader. Gillespy wanted desperately to make a strong initial impression on Matheny, who she hoped to eventually play under in high school.

"I was a little nervous, I wasn't sure what to expect," Gillespy said. "Then, she comes out the first day singing and dancing and hugging all of us. I thought, 'What am I worried about? With her around this should be fun.' "

Fun is the operative word here.

It was the driving force at St. Joseph's behind every practice, every game and every team activity for over three decades.

"That's the first thing I wanted to impress on the girls," Matheny said. "We're out here to have fun. Sure, winning is great. But does it mean all that much if you're not having fun?"

Matheny's days of basketball fun have come to an end. The 63-year-old announced she will not be returning for her 34th season next winter despite a plethora of returning talent from a team that finished a 21-7 campaign last month.

Although there were numerous reasons to stay, Matheny came to the conclusion it was time for her run to end.

A run that featured 518 wins, 17 district titles, 10 final four appearance and a Class 5 state championship in 2004.

"It's been an honor, the best job anyone can ask for," Matheny said. "You know in your mind when it's time and now's that time."

Matheny's two long-time assistants, Bob Goessling and Tim Stock, will also be stepping down. Goessling, who is Matheny's twin brother, has been with her every step of the way.

The trio will leave a legacy that may never be matched.

St. Joseph's has had just one losing season over the last 24 years. The 2022 team made the last of the school's 18 final four appearances on the way to a fourth-place finish in Class 6.

Matheny, a 1979 St. Joseph's grad, began as an assistant in 1992 and took over as head coach in 1999.

"She's put her heart and soul into this basketball program," St. Joseph's athletics director Maureen McVey said. "It wasn't always about wins with her. It was more about being with the kids and making them a better person.

"It was very important to her that her players left as better people than they were when they first got here."

Almost every player would agree that Matheny has had a positive impact on their life. Gillespy, who was part of the 2004 title team, went on to a successful career at Indiana State University. In 2010, she led the NCAA in free throw percentage at 93.3.

Some of that marksmanship at the line can be attributed to Matheny's life lessons.

"She loves basketball with every fiber of her being," Gillespy said. "But loving people, that might be her greatest passion. No matter where she is she always exudes joy. It's like she can't stop that huge smile from exploding across her face."

Goessling said a testament to his sister's impact on the lives of her players comes from the large amount of former athletes who still keep in touch with her.

Matheny, who is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, is just as proud of how successful her players have become in the game of life.

"Julie is one of the few people who bleed green," Goessling said of the primary school color. "And the best part of that is she put the St. Joe Angel in every one of the girls who have played for us over the last 30 (plus) years.

"She was so big in helping these girls become young ladies."

Matheny's husband died of a heart attack two and a half years ago. Goessling suffered a heart attack a season ago. Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes also had a heart attack after a state semifinal game last month.

Those were all factors in Matheny's decision.

"It was a wakeup, sure," Matheny said.

Matheny will miss a sport that has been an integral part of her life since she was a youngster. The fire is still there.

"I love it, I love everything about it," Matheny said. "The players, the games, the practices, coming up with a defense to stop this player or that player. There was nothing that I didn't like."

Matheny plans on relaxing and enjoying life. She said she will visit friends in Florida and hopes to reunite "with my long lost, golf swing."

McVey has the unenviable task of trying to replace, not one, but three fixtures in the program. She readily admits it will be nearly impossible to fill Matheny's shoes.

"I can't tell you how lucky I feel and everyone else around here feels for having her around and a part of this school for so many years," McVey said. "There will never be anyone like her."