REMEMBERING STEVE 'COACH' McKEAN
It is with sadness that School Sport NZ acknowledges the passing of Steve “Coach” McKean. He will be missed by school communities including principals, sports staff and secondary students past and present for his immense contribution to Secondary School Sport in Taranaki.
Coach came to NZ as one of the first American imports to the NZ Basketball scene and had an immediate impact. By 1972 Coach had taken over the helm of the NZ Mens' Basketball team and cemented his place in BBNZ history as the first coach to win a series over Australia in 1978.
Coach first started work for TSSSA in 1993 as the Taranaki Regional Sports Co-ordinator for secondary schools, and soon after in 1995 he took over the Regional Sports Director Role where he made his mark on secondary school sport across the region for twenty years.
Coach was instrumental in building the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports Association Events Calendar from 11 events to 42, with a huge variety of sports available to students.
In 2006, Taranaki secondary school boys had the highest participation rate in sport in New Zealand and girls the third highest, driven mainly by Coach’s desire to see students put on their school colours. Coach was well known for hand delivering sports results to schools around the mountain every Monday, and relationships with schools were maintained the ‘old school way’ with numerous cups of coffee and phone calls.
McKean was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2012 for services to sport, picked up a lifetime achievement gong at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards in 2016 and was an inaugural inductee into Basketball New Zealand’s hall of fame.
Coach McKean will be fondly remembered for his positivity, endless amounts of energy and will to motivate youth. He was once quoted as saying “I tell the kids that play sport at high school- these guys will be friends for life. “That’s what sport has meant to me- friendship.”
A legend, mentor, and friend
You are missed already, rest in peace.