Hall of Fame
One of the most influential people in the history of Ranger athletics, Koon came to Northwest in 1965 as head basketball coach and psychology instructor. Koon's best season as coach came in 1972, when Northwest claimed its first-ever State Championship and recorded a 25-5 mark with a perfect 16-0 division slate. His coaching record at Northwest was 92-70. His squads made two appearances in the state tournament, and nine players were named All-State.
An outstanding athlete in his own right, Koon was a basketball star at Pine Grove High School, where he finished at the top of his class in 1951. He attended Delta State University on a basketball scholarship and completed his B.A. degree in social sciences at Ole Miss before coaching and teaching stints at Tupelo and Hickory Flat high schools. He later earned his master's degree in school administration from the University of Mississippi where he also did advanced study.
In 1974, Koon became president of Northwest and until his death in 1985, paved the way for many championships. The year that stood out most during Koon's term was 1982 - the Year of the Ranger. That season, Northwest won five state titles, three region crowns, and two national championships. He was instrumental in Northwest hosting the NJCAA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament from 1983 through 1988.
