NEW WASHINGTON — The surprise to some is that it just happened officially on Saturday night.
Jim Matthews may have made a name for himself because of the things that happened on the basketball court on Saturday nights in New Washington.
On this particular Saturday though, Matthews officially gave his name to the very court he called home for 30 seasons.
The community of New Wash, along with a handful of Matthews’ former players, assistant coaches and opponents gathered to officially dedicate the James Matthews Gymnasium.
“It’s always been Jim Matthews’ gymnasium,” quipped Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, a former rival coach of Matthews at Providence and Scottsburg high schools. “This way I guess it always will be.”
A video montage of Matthews’ career highlights was played and a line of speakers gathered to reminisce and honor the man known simply as “Chief” to the small Clark County town.
On a night of friendship and camaraderie, an evening of anecdotes and of history, guests ranging from current New Washington coach Jonathan May to Bennett, one of the highest-ranking elected officials in Indiana shared memories, paid tribute to the longest-tenured unofficial mayor New Washington has ever known.
“Did you get it right New Washington when you named your gym after Jim Matthews?” asked current Charlestown girls’ basketball coach and former athletic director Tony Hall. “Of course, you did. You got it right because Jim Matthews always did things right.”
Most speakers had a quick joke at the coach’s expense, whether it was a story about his struggles with his computer or a crack about his exploits on the golf course.
“I hope you know just because New Wash is doing this tonight, this doesn’t earn you any strokes on the golf course,” joked former Scottsburg head coach and longtime Matthews friend Brady Wells.
“You can name this gym after Jim Matthews, but what he did for this town didn’t stop in these doors,” said former New Washington player and assistant Brian McEwen. “The Matthews family name means a great deal to this entire community. He’s been more than a basketball coach to a lot of people — he’s a friend and a mentor.”
May, who is entering his fourth season as Mustang coach, played for Matthews as a player and said he hopes the current Mustangs in attendance gained a new perspective on the program from taking part in the evening.
“This is a program that means a lot of things to a lot of people,” May said. “I hope my players sitting here tonight see that, because this is a special event and a special program to be part of.”
Current Mustang assistant coach Joe Wood, another former Matthews player who spoke Saturday, said the evening was a perfect tribute to the longtime mentor.
“One day Jonathan and I were standing here in the gym and he said ‘there’s something special about being in this gym.’ It’s only fitting that this gym is named after the man who made it that way.”
“Did you get it right New Washington, naming this gym after Jim?” Tony Hall asked. “Yes you did, because Jim Matthews did it right.”
The evening ended with two of Matthews’s longest-tenured assistants, Jeff Wigginton and Keith Gaffney giving closing remarks. Gaffney joked, “they don’t do this a lot of times when you’re still alive coach, nice work.”
Two of the coach’s’ grandchildren then unveiled the banner that will hang over the court at all future New Washington home games.
It’s another night in the history of New Washington basketball — and once again it has the Jim Matthews’ name written all over it.
Contact Mike Hutsell at mike.hutsell@newsandtribune.com.
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