Jeff Sherman enters his fifth year as Director of Athletics following a 37-year Hall of Fame career as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Central Methodist. His coaching career has been recognized by both the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

At the conclusion of the 2021–22 basketball season, Sherman was the longest-tenured and winningest coach in Central Methodist University history, as well as one of the longest-tenured collegiate basketball coaches in the nation. Upon retiring, he ranked as the fourth-winningest active NAIA basketball coach in the country and sixth all-time among four-year colleges in Missouri with 668 career victories.

Career Highlights:

• Winningest coach in Central Methodist’s 118-year history (668 wins)
• Eight Conference Coach of the Year honors
• 2018 Heart of America Conference Coach of Character Award
• Twelve 20-win seasons and one 30-win season
• Five conference and divisional titles
• Five NAIA National Tournament appearances
• Three Sweet 16 finishes
• 14 seasons ranked in the NAIA Top 25
• Highest national ranking: No. 2 in 1998 (finished 26–8)
• Recipient of CMU’s Young Alumni Award (1998)
• Ranked 25th all-time among NAIA basketball coaches in total victories

Under Sherman’s leadership, Central Methodist produced 71 All-Conference players, including 19 All-Americans and 22 NAIA Scholar-Athletes. His teams also featured five Conference Players of the Year, six Newcomers of the Year, and three Freshmen of the Year. Additionally, 23 players scored over 1,000 career points during his tenure.

The Eagles led the nation in scoring in 1990 (106.7 points/game) and ranked second in 1991 (102.0 points/game). Sherman also established an extensive coaching tree, with more than 75 former players pursuing coaching careers.

Hall of Fame Honors:

Sherman has been inducted into four Hall of Fames as both an athlete and a coach:

• 2005 – De Beque (CO) High School Hall of Fame (Basketball & Track Athlete)
• 2009 – Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (Coach)
• 2012 – Central Methodist Hairston Hall of Fame (Coach)
• 2022 – Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (Coach)

He is a member of both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association. Sherman was also widely known throughout Mid-Missouri for his basketball camps, established in 1985, which attracted more than 28,000 campers over the years.

In addition to coaching, Sherman has served as a guest speaker for numerous organizations, athletic banquets, coaching clinics, and seminars, and has delivered commencement addresses. From 2017 to 2022, he represented Central Methodist as both Senior and Faculty Marshal during graduation ceremonies and currently teaches in the Master’s Education Program.

Playing Career:

Before coaching, Sherman was an elite basketball and track athlete in Colorado from 1975 to 1978. At De Beque High School, he earned all-state honors in track (1975, 1977, 1978) and basketball (1977, 1978). In 1978, he led Colorado and the Midwest region in scoring with a 37.8 points-per-game average and finished his high school career with 2,176 points, including three 50-point games and a 60-point performance in his final home game.

Sherman competed under his father, Alan Sherman, throughout his youth and high school career. In recognition of his father’s impact, the De Beque High School gym was later named the Al Sherman Gymnasium.

In track, Sherman dominated sprint events, sweeping the 100m and 200m at the conference and district level all four years and winning multiple state titles. He earned eight total state gold medals and still holds several school and conference records. His top high school times included 10.8 seconds in the 100m and 22.0 seconds in the 200m.

Collegiate Career:

Sherman attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, on both basketball and track scholarships. He was named the school’s top track athlete in 1979 and 1980 and qualified for NJCAA national meets. His best times included 10.4 seconds in the 100m and 20.9 seconds in the 200m. In basketball, he helped lead his team to the NJCAA National Tournament in 1980.

He later transferred to Central Methodist College, where he helped the program win its first Heart Conference Championship in over 25 years (24–7 record) and followed with another 20-win season. Sherman averaged 10.5 points per game and led the team in assists, steals, and free-throw percentage during his two seasons.

Coaching Career:

After graduating in 1983, Sherman began his coaching career at North Nodaway High School in Hopkins, Missouri, serving as head basketball coach and assistant football coach. His teams won conference championships in both sports, and his basketball team finished 18–6 overall and 8–0 in conference play.

He returned to Central Methodist as an assistant coach in 1984–85 and was named head coach in July 1985 at just 24 years old.

Personal:

As Sherman enters his 42nd year at Central Methodist, his wife, Julee, Vice President of Finance and Administration at CMU, begins her 41st year. The Shermans reside in Fayette, Missouri.

They have two sons, Matt and Ryan, both of whom attended and excelled at CMU. Matt earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in basketball, while Ryan excelled in football and track.

Matt and his wife, Stasia, live in Fayette with their children, William and Charlotte. Ryan and his wife, Nicole, live in Glasgow, Missouri, with their sons, Nash, Graham, and Tripp.