East Meck's Jason Grube, Monroe's Johnny Sowell reach coaching milestones

To contact us Click HERE

Two area coaches hit big milestones Friday night.

In Union County, Monroe’s legendary football and basketball coach, Johnny Sowell, won his 400th basketball game.

In Charlotte, East Mecklenburg’s Jason Grube, who is building towards a legendary career of his own, won his 200th game, one day shy of another big milestone.

Grube turned 40 Saturday.

Sowell started coaching Monroe’s boys team in 1990 and took 563 games to hit 400. The Redhawks beat Union Academy 64-26 at home Friday to give Sowell an impressive career record of 400-163.
Sowell won a state title in 1980 as a player at Monroe. In 2010, He won one as a coach.

In 14 years as a coach, Grube now has a career record of 200-145. Despite losing five players to transfers, three to academics and five to graduation, Grube, who led East to the 2008 N.C. 4A championship, has the Eagles (7-8, 2-3 Southwestern 4A) in contention for a league championship.

East is just a few games behind league leading Independence (4-1 in conference) and four teams tied for second at 3-2 -- Butler, South Meck, Myers Park and Rocky River.