CAMP VERDE — For nearly three decades, Mark Showers has paced the sidelines within the confines of the Camp Verde High School gymnasium, teaching the game of basketball and supporting local kids as they navigated through their teen years in effort to seek out where they fit in the game of life.

Some high school coaches attempt to camouflage their never-ending need for victory with the old “we’re raising good humans” hyperbole. They talk the talk, but rarely do they walk the walk.

Most high school coaches, however, don’t fit into that mold. Showers certainly walks among those who do it for the right reasons, and come the end of the 2024-25 season, his legacy will be cemented in Cowboys’ history as a man who always made sure that “good humans” came out of his program, regardless of wins and losses.

Showers, who is set to retire from coaching basketball after leading Camp Verde for 28 years, said that he and his wife Lori have always viewed coaching like a “mission.”

“It’s not a job, it’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about developing relationships with kids, impacting their lives and loving them no matter what,” Showers said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do. I was way stricter and way tougher on kids earlier in my career, and I’m way easier on them now. I don’t know if that’s age, or what. But it’s just different.”

The school, former players and other community members will honor Showers in-between the boys and girls games Friday, Jan. 31, when they host Madison Highland Prep.

Mark Showers stands with his team in an undated photo. (Showers Family/Courtesy)

SO WHY NOW?

Turning 62 in April, Showers intends to stay on as principal of the high school for at least a few more years, but he will forever be known in the community by former players, teachers, and parents as “Coach.”

After a 40-35 victory over Northland Prep. on Jan. 30, Showers has 539 career wins, good enough for eighth all time in Arizona high school girls basketball coaching history.

And with four games to play on the Camp Verde (10-12, 3-2 2A Central) schedule, he could surpass longtime Valley Christian coach Scott Timmer (541) for seventh all time. Karen Self (836 wins, Seton Catholic), Miner Webster (832 wins, Highland) and Don Petranovich (780 wins, Winslow) are top three in all-time wins.

Showers explained retirement from the game of basketball has been on his mind for at least the last few seasons.

“My wife Lori and I have been discussing when the end would be for the last couple of years. Each season, I say, ‘I’ll know when it’s time,’” Showers said. “The thing that made the difference this year is that I have two quality assistant coaches who both are very interested in continuing the Camp Verde girls basketball legacy. That was the main, final decision point is that I had two, very-qualified young people who could take over.”

One of those “young people” is current assistant coach Mandi Lozanilla, who played for Showers from 2016-2020, and was a senior on the club that made it to the 2A state finals in 2019-2020 before losing to Thatcher, 51-50.

“Coach Showers always believed we could win games. He knew our potential and knew we could make it far. Showers not only pushed us to be great on the court but was also teaching us how to succeed in life,” said Lozanilla, who also talked about her experience as a coach under him.

“He’s taught me a thing or two,” Lozanilla said with a smile. “Being patient is a huge part in coaching. … I can never thank coach enough for how much he helped me, not only as a player, but as a person off the court. He has impacted a lot of people, and he will always be known for what he has done in Camp Verde.”

THE EARLY YEARS

Mark Showers kneels during his first team picture in Camp Verde during the 1997-1998 season. (Showers Family/Courtesy)

Showers started coaching at Camp Verde during the 1997-1998 season, but his daughter, Amy, played from 2001-2005 and is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,161 points, good enough for fourth all time in 3A state history. She was also only one point away from cracking the Top 20 all-time list among scorers in all conferences across the state.

Wall, who is married to Camp Verde boys basketball coach and current athletic director Dan Wall, said playing for her dad was a mix of “highs and lows” because despite how good she was on the court, or no matter how hard she worked, critics would sometimes say the only reason she got playing time was because her dad was the coach.

Of course, there will always be critics, but as one of the top scorers in Arizona basketball history, every minute she played was justified, regardless of who her dad is, and she knows that now.

“But honestly, my dad wasn’t just an incredible coach when it came to strategy—he was also the most supportive and understanding father I could ask for. Those four years of playing for him really helped strengthen our relationship in so many ways. Looking back, I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else,” Wall said.

Wall, who currently leads the track team for Camp Verde, coached alongside her dad from 2010-2021 and said she loved working with him on the sidelines.

“Seeing the incredible impact he’s had on so many lives is truly inspiring,” Wall said. “Over time, I’ve gained so many ‘bonus siblings’ through the relationships he’s built with his players. It’s been amazing to watch my own kids grow up seeing their grandpa make such a difference in people’s lives. This year, my oldest is a freshman, and it’s been so much fun watching them interact, both at school and in the gym.”

Wall said it was “bittersweet” when Showers made the retirement announcement in December.

“At first, my heart sank because I’ve only ever known him as a coach—it’s such a big part of who he is. But I’m excited for my mom and my kids to be able to spend more time with him now. I know he’s really looking forward to just being a grandpa and watching his grandchildren play sports,” Wall said. “All good things must come to an end eventually, and I think I’ve finally come to accept that.”

Mark Showers gives a hug to his daughter Amy during her playing career. (Showers Family/Courtesy)

2005-2009 ERA

Having played basketball for Showers from 2005-2009, an era that produced more than 100 victories, including two appearances in the 2A state Final Four that saw Camp Verde lose to Pusch Ridge in the title game 46-36 in 2007, Cassie Redmon (formally Spliess) said it was an “honor” to play for the program.

“He had high expectations and was always challenging, and encouraging, his players. But it was met with high warmth. He was always smiling or throwing a joke or teasing about something and seemed to have that relationship with each of his players,” Redmon said of Showers, adding that she remembers specific things during practices or games, but nothing more important than the never ending support, even after she graduated.

“Nothing compares to the lasting imprint on my heart that coach and his family have made,” Redmon said. “Coach has been a second dad to me and Lori a second mom. My mom passed away in 2021 suddenly, and they were at the birth of my third child and have stayed close and helped me immensely. The [Showers’] family is so special to my heart.”

Cassie Redmon (formally Spliess) and Mark Showers stand together. (Redmon Family/Courtesy)

Redmon shared that each year, Showers would begin the season sharing that he deeply cared for the players, and empowered them to “become strong, capable women, great wives and excellent mothers.”

“He would tell us that Jesus deeply loved and valued each of us, that our worth was in the fact that we were daughters of a King who cherished us, and because of that he would call us up, treat us with respect, and challenge us to be the best versions of ourselves,” Redmon said. “I knew as a teen this talk was important each year, but now as a mother having a daughter, I realize coach gifted my parents and many other families in the only way that matters. He instilled a deep sense of worth and pride into his teams and his players.”

One specific story stood out to Redmon during her playing days, stating that the day her grandpa died, she came back to play a game.

“He drew the winning play for me to score and reminded me how proud my grandpa was of me,” Redmon said, adding that Showers also used to invite the team over to the house every season to watch the movie “Hoosiers.”

“[When] we went to the state finals, the day of the game we got to the stadium early and he measured the hoop and the floor, just like they did in the movie,” Redmon said with a laugh.

2009-2013 ERA

Katie Brewer (formally Wilson), played for Showers from 2009-2013, including the 2011-2012 team that made the Division III state Final Four, losing an epic battle with then No. 1-ranked page 60-45.

Page would eventually go on to win the title over Winslow, but that Cowboys team would be considered one of the best in program history with 27 wins, second to only Lozanilla’s team, which had 29 wins in 2019-2020.

“Playing basketball for coach Showers will always be some of the best times of my life. From going to San Diego every summer to play ball and hit up the beach, to being in the final four in our state tournament. I have so many memories of him,” Brewer said, recalling one specific day she wanted to share.

Mark Showers and his team at Disney Land, a trip the program takes almost every summer. (Showers Family/Courtesy)

“We were running sprints and I was super slow that day. He looked at me and said, ‘Katie Wilson, what is going on?’ And I looked at him and said, ‘Coach, I am a big girl,’” Brewer said with a laugh, adding another memory from her freshman year when the team needed to foul at the time, and she tackled a girl on the court.

“[At the time] that’s what I thought ‘foul her’ meant. I will never forget his face after I did that,” Brewer said with a laugh. “He will always be one of the most influential people in my life. Not only teaching me how to be a good ballplayer but strengthening my faith and guiding me to be the best person I can be.”

Brewer is currently an assistant for Showers as well, adding it has been “so fun and nostalgic” working for him and the program that she played in.

“He is the same when it comes to certain things like the infamous ‘Coach Showers Stomp,’ and the things he says on the bench. A lot of the times I already know what he is going to say to the girls because I was in their position before,” Brewer said. “Coach Showers has always been a father figure to me even as I’m older, but it has been cool being on the other side of the bench and working with him as a colleague with developing the girl’s skills and character.”

Brewer said she was “in tears” when he announced in December that he was retiring.

“What is Camp Verde girls basketball without coach Showers? He has built this program to what it is today and it is going to be so strange to not have him as head coach,” Brewer said. “However, I’m excited to be a part of his legacy that he is leaving, as a player, and now a coach.”

Mark Showers in the early years at Camp Verde High School. (Showers Family/Courtesy)

Amanda Showers, also Mark’s daughter, played on the 2011-2012 club as well with Brewer when they were juniors. He recalled being ahead by one at halftime against Page in the state semifinals.

“I never thought in a million years we’d be able to compete against Page. We ended up losing that game, but that team worked hard, they jelled, they got along. They were a fun group to coach all four years,” Mark Showers said, taking the time to also compare Amanda with Amy during their playing days.

“We always say that Amy was the experimental child as our first one, and she’s the one who scored over 2,000 points in her career. Coaching her, was I really a good coach, or was it because I had Amy and she won all our games,” Showers said with a big smile.

Showers said he learned a lot by coaching Amy, much of which he applied during Amanda’s time with him.

“I was very hard with Amy. When Amanda came along, I was less hard on Amanda, and she was an equally talented player. It was fun,” Showers said. “Somewhere along the way, God blessed me with the ability to work with young ladies. I’ve cherished that, and it was cool. Having the opportunity to coach my two daughters, you can’t get that back. I will carry that forever and it was very special to my family.”

LOOKING BACK

When asked if he would have done anything differently, Showers said he would have “definitely” not been as hard on Amy, but other than that, it is “hard to say.”

“Camp Verde is my home. I view this gym as my house and I take good care of this gym, and I make sure people behave themselves in this house. The school is my home, and the students are my kids,” Showers said. “The plan is just to continue to serve the kids, the teachers and the community for the next few years. Hopefully somewhere along the way, God will point out what the next thing is, and Lori and I look forward to whatever that is.”

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.