57 years ago, Parkway West opened, but there has been one constant figure in it other than the building: basketball coach Rich Rogers. Coaching for so long takes commitment and passion for the game, making Rogers a cornerstone of the school’s athletic history. Rogers has coached every basketball player who has been a student at Parkway West. With a reputation for developing talent, Rogers’ influence extends far beyond the basketball court, leaving his mark on the school and inspiring generations of players. His career is a testament to the power of dedication, leadership, and the profound impact of sports on young people.

To honor Rogers’ commitment to the sport, the basketball program organized a game in his honor on Feb. 14 while hosting the Lindbergh Flyers. That night, Coach Rogers’ legacy was honored with a special presentation before the game. Many of the former players he coached came back to West to attend the celebration.

“Playing that night was an awesome experience because a lot of old players from past teams came back to watch. Although we lost, it was still very nice to see Coach Rogers get praise and have his own night about him,” senior Ty Keuhl said.

This is Rogers’ 57th season as the assistant varsity coach. He is known for being intense but understanding. Through basketball, he teaches students to work hard, be respectful, and always give their best effort.

“I got into coaching because I enjoyed working with young people and trying to pass on the knowledge that I gained as an athlete myself. Gaining their respect and helping them get better is very important to me,” Rogers said.

Whether working with freshmen just starting their journey or with seasoned seniors, Rogers gives them advice and tips on how to play better. With Rogers coaching for so long, he has seen a variety of situations.

“When I came into high school, Rogers helped me learn new and different ways to play defense that I didn’t know coming out of middle school, and even now, he pushes me to get better,” senior and varsity basketball player Carson Hughes said.

During tryouts, Rogers helped run the freshman group with business teacher and freshman basketball coach Evan Stern. His goal every year is to assess skill levels and orient new players for the team, like freshman basketball player Jack Peterson.

“Rogers pushes us in practice and tryouts to be the best we can be, even if the player doesn’t have great skill. He runs drills to help us keep getting better and to see who would be good to be on the team,” Peterson said.

Basketball season is the longest season out of any sport all year, starting in November and ending in February or March, making it a four or five-month season. Each team practices about six days a week and usually has two games a week. So, to commit to the intense schedule, Rogers emphasizes the need for proper motivation.

“If you are going to play basketball here, you [have to] be in love with it or athletics in general. You [have] got to do it for all of the right reasons like teamwork, [working] well with others and getting respect from your teammates,” Rogers said.

Rogers has a notable mentality for his players: keep the same intensity to keep getting better so they can be successful when the late season comes around. 

Parkway West basketball is in Class 5 for Missouri, which is the second largest class for all Missouri high schools. The competition within every game provides learning opportunities not just for the players, but for the coaching staff as well. 

“When I became the varsity coach in 2010 after coaching lower-level teams for about 14 years, Rogers helped me get through the first couple of years, which were tough. I really thought I knew what I was doing, but [I] needed someone with experience to help me get going,” varsity basketball head coach John Wright said.

Being around the game of basketball for so long, Rogers has seen it all. From seasons where the team wins two games all year to teams that win the state championship, the mentality is always the same: work hard every day and good things will come. Today, Rogers continues his long legacy of guiding others. 

“Not only is Coach Rogers a great mentor and coach for me, but I consider him to be a family member,” Wright said. “He provided amazing and valuable guidance to me as I gained experience as a head coach. He has always stood for pride in being a Longhorn.”