Continuing the countdown for the top ten stories of the 2020-21 school year for Melcher-Dallas is one of two noteworthy coaches that retired at the end of the season.

Boys basketball coach Jim Wells retired from coaching at Melcher-Dallas after spending 23 years there. Wells’ final season at the helm was a 9-11 overall record with a 4-5 record in Bluegrass Conference play. Melcher-Dallas also lost to North Mahaska in the first round of the playoffs. Wells announced his retirement shortly after the season completed.

Wells won 215 games in 23 seasons at the helm for Melcher-Dallas. He had three 20-win seasons, including 26 wins in 2005-06. Wells also had three 1,000-point scorers go through his program, who were BJ Wells, Chase Wetterling, and Ryan Krpan.

With his retirement, assistant coach John Suntken will take over the program in 2021-22.