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Save the date: JCCC baseball to honor former head coach Sonny Maynard April

The photo is a black-and-white image showing a person leaning forward with one knee bent and resting on a step or ledge. The individual is wearing a striped long-sleeve shirt and dark pants, along with a cap. The setting appears to be near a dugout or sports facility, as indicated by the presence of equipment such as bats stored vertically in a rack on the left side. There is also a plastic chair positioned near the person, and a bag or other items are visible on the ground. The background consists of a cinder block wall with a chart or schedule posted on it, and part of a staircase railing is visible. The overall scene suggests a casual or preparatory moment in a sports environment.
Former JCCC head baseball coach Sonny Maynards on the steps of the dugout.
Posted: Dec 03, 2025

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College baseball team will honoring former head coach Sonny Maynard on Saturday, April 11 against Southwestern Community College at JCCC Baseball Complex. The ceremony will take place at 12:45 with an unveiling of his jersey on the outfield wall followed by his family throwing out the first pitch.

The legendary coach passed away in Olathe, Kansas on April 6. He left behind a legacy of perseverance, achievement and trailblazing leadership.

In 1969, Maynard broke racial barriers as the first Black coach at Johnson County Community College, serving as the assistant coach for the men's basketball program under head coach and Athletic Director Orville Gregory, and head coach of the baseball program.

Few men have had a greater impact on amateur baseball than Maynard, who directed the Cavaliers baseball program to the forefront of collegiate baseball not only in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference but nation-wide.

Maynard logged 504 victories in 14 years as the Cavaliers skipper, an average of 36 wins per season. Five of his 14 seasons he led JCCC to 40 or more wins, including a school record 48 in 1985. He finished with a career winning percentage of .741 and never finished with a percentage under .600.

Maynard also piled up championships, amassing six East Jayhawk Conference titles (1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1984), four Eastern Sub-Regional titles (1974, 1975, 1980, 1984), three Region 6 titles (1974, 1980, 1984) and five teams finished the season ranked nationally. Nineteen of his players were drafted by professional baseball teams, and he tutored five All-Americans and 36 All-Region 6 performers.

In the summer of 1980, Maynard was selected by the United State Baseball Federation as one of the coaches for the Japan-USA All-Star Series. The USA team lost the first game but won six straight for the championship. His coaching excellence also extended to roles with the Kansas City Royals.

In 1986, Maynard was asked to take over the women's basketball program and generated the greatest turnaround in Jayhawk Conference history. He took over a team that went 0-26 prior to a 22-10 record and a second-place finish in the conference. His second year he led JCCC to a program record 25-7 mark and another conference runner-up finish. He coached All-American Lisa Kirby, one of the top scorers in NJCAA history. 

After the 1987-88 season he stepped down but returned for a second stint during the 1991-92 campaign and led the Cavaliers to a 12-5 mark and a 10-4 record in conference play. He also coached All-America Melissa Grider, another top scorer nationally. In all, Maynard coached two All-Americans, six All-Region 6 selections and 10 All-Jayhawk Conference selections while posting a .728 winning percentage (59-22).

Maynard was born on October 25, 1934, in Bristol, Oklahoma and was a highly recruited athlete out of Booker T. Washington High School in Cushing, Oklahoma, after leading his basketball team to three consecutive Black high school championship while earning All-State honors. His senior year he was named Oklahoma's Most Valuable Player.

He was recruited by Kansas, Notre Dame, Grambling State and Colorado State, but continued his career at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas, where he was selected as a basketball All-American in 1956 and 1957. He was also a two-time All-Region 6 selection and voted Most Inspirational Player for the Tigers. He finished his career with 996 points, eight-most in Cowley men's basketball history.

While in Ark City, Maynard also pitched and played center field on its semi pro baseball – May Builders and later managed and coached both the May Builders baseball and basketball teams, a position that lasted from 1957-67.

During his team as manager and coach, Maynard attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he earned a bachelor's degree, In 1958, he accepted a position as recreation director at the Winfield State Hospital and Training Center – position he held until 1969. He later received his master's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1963.

Maynard was honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions across Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. He was first inducted into the JCCC Hall of Fame in 1992, followed by Southwestern College (1999), Cowley College (2000) and both the Conoco AAU and Missouri AAU Halls of Fame.