Steve High began his first year at the helm of the Lady Conq Basketball program July 16, 2007. But this is not a rookie coach by any means, 2007-2008 marks High’s 33^rd year in the coaching profession. High comes to Dodge City after a successful 18 year tenure at Pittsburg State University. Coach High was the winningest coach in the 33-year history of the program compiling 296 victories. High fashioned the Gorillas into perennial contenders, winning two MIAA championships and five NCAA Division II National Tournament berths. The MIAA is widely considered to be one of the top NCAA Division II women’s basketball conferences in the nation. PSU’s success during High’s era resulted in one of the most loyal fan followings among the nation’s Division II schools.  Over the past 15 seasons (201 games) the Gorillas average of 1,180 fans per game is one of the better marks in all of women’s college basketball.
Such strong support resulted in a notable home-court advantage for the Gorillas.  During that 15-year span PSU has posted a 151-50 overall record (.751).  

During Coach High’s 18-year tenure as head coach at Pittsburg State 92.3 percent of the student-athletes who completed their eligibility in the Gorilla Women’s Basketball Program have graduated from the University. The team’s academic grade point average during that same time was 3.377.

High became PSU’s fifth women’s basketball coach on April 24, 1989, after serving as assistant women’s basketball coach for three seasons at the University of Nebraska.  While High was at Lincoln, the Lady Huskers went from seventh in the Big Eight to winning its first and only league title and a first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I National Tournament. In 1989 High also played an integral role that year in PSU’s adopting the “Gorillas” as the official mascot for PSU women’s athletics.

Prior to serving as an assistant coach at Nebraska, High was the girls’ basketball coach at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, for four seasons.  He posted a 67-25 overall record at LMHS, leading the team to Iowa’s first-ever five-on-five state title.  High was named Metro Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1985 and was Conference and State Coach of the Year in 1985. Coach High’s combined high school and college head coaching record is 363 wins and 226 losses.

In 1991 and 1993 High was selected as one of only 24 floor coaches from around the country to assist in the U.S. Olympic Festival tryouts.  He has spoken at numerous coaching clinics and is frequently asked to speak before area service clubs and church groups.

High earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and health from the University of Northern Iowa in 1974.  Steve and his wife of 33 years, Anne, have a daughter, Morgan and a son Taylor. Morgan competed for four years in track & field at Kansas State University and was a Big XII High Jump Champion and earned indoor and outdoor All-American honors and is pursuing a nursing degree at Pittsburg State. Morgan, and her husband David Lemen, an assistant track coach at Pitt State, have a daughter, Rylee, who turned 2 on July 29. Taylor, a 2004 graduate of Girard High School, is attending the University of Kansas.  He is in his fourth season working for Coach Bill Self’s men’s basketball program and this year Taylor is the Head Manager for the Jayhawks.

The Highs reside in Dodge City.