Head varsity basketball coach Ben Meseke was honored March 6 in downtown Kansas City at the College Basketball Experience with the Marcus Priddy Award. The award is given to a coach who demonstrates a positive influence on his/her players on and off of the court.
Coaches at the youth, high school or college level are eligible for the award, which was named after the late Shawnee Mission West varsity girls’ basketball coach, who also worked in the GABL Summer League.

“Initially I was really honored to receive such a prestigious award, but once I met his wife and his kids and I learned about how Mr. Priddy was not only a coach, but also a loving father and husband, it made it that much more special,” Meseke said.

This is just one of many honors Meseke has been given during his time at Northwest. He has also been named Sunflower League Coach of the Year twice and has been inducted into the Kansas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Meseke’s greatest accomplishment of all, according to basketball player Jackson Foth, is the fact that he came back from a heart transplant last year and managed to coach the Cougars yet again, despite doctors’ recommendations.

“The award reflects his motivational style of coaching and shows how he knows how to get the best out of everyone, including players,” Foth said.