Where Are They Now? . . . Cody McKinney

Eagles legend Cody McKinney will take over as head coach of the St. Clair boys basketball program this coming winter sports season, thirty years after his father Dino held the same position. In the late 2010s, as a triathlete at Sullivan High School, C. McKinney was an unstoppable juggernaut in basketball, baseball and golf. He has hit more milestones after graduating, making waves at Fontbonne University and recently becoming engaged to his high school sweetheart, Kya Harbour.

C. McKinney was a two-time Sullivan High School Male Athlete of the Year awardee (2017-18, 2018-19). In 2019, he was named Four Rivers Conference Player of the Year, selected to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-State team and named Missourian All-Area Player of the Year. At the same time, his father, Dino, who had coached him through high school on the court and course, also earned the All-Area Coach award. 

C. McKinney says his favorite memory from high school was helping lead the boys basketball team to their first district title since 2003, winning state sectionals and playing in the quarterfinals. He described winning the district championship as “surreal,” stating, “I always dreamed about it. I always wanted to do it, especially with my dad as a coach and the guys I grew up playing with through Little League. It was almost like a dream come true with it, especially beating a state-ranked Rolla team [in the district final].”

After graduating in 2019, C. McKinney inked with Fontbonne University to continue basketball and golf. He described the collegiate level as “a big jump” for him, saying, “There’s a lot of great players in college, so you know my role is a little different in college than it was in high school, especially golf and basketball. It took a little getting used to.”

Despite being uncharted territory, C. McKinney took on the challenge and adjusted to the higher level. He broke through for success at Fontbonne as a basketball guard for two years and on the golf course for five. In 2023, C. McKinney was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player for the week of Oct. 9.

After Sullivan and Fontbonne, C. McKinney is excited for the next chapter of his life, where he will coach St. Clair’s boys basketball program. He said, “The work life of St. Clair is awesome ... Just getting that head coaching job, and there’s a lot of great people down there. So I’m excited.” Then, if he needs any advice on the gig, C. McKinney will go to his father for words of wisdom. “He’s been around the block a couple of times, so definitely, if I have any questions, I’ll definitely go to him,” he stated.

Another milestone that C. McKinney reached was getting engaged to his high school sweetheart, K. Harbour. He described it as, “We went down to Florida, proposed down there. It was a big step in my personal life.” His fiancée was also a basketball star at Sullivan High School and is the daughter of former baseball coach Jason Harbour.

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