Longtime Republic girls basketball coach Kris Flood was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon during the Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield.
For Flood, who retired last season after a 25-year career at Republic that included two state championships and more than 500 wins, the moment was surreal.
“I was glad I wasn’t the very first one to go, so I had a pencil in my jacket and I was up there making a few notes on my card,” Flood said. “It was awesome to see everybody was out here, and a lot of people I knew in attendance… I’ve always had that support through the years, whether it’s friends or players and their parents.”
Flood compiled a 530-178 record during his Republic career, leading the Lady Tigers to state championships in 2004 and 2012. His teams won nine Central Ozark Conference titles, including five undefeated conference seasons. Republic captured 15 district championships under his leadership and made 11 state quarterfinal appearances.
Looking back on his career path, Flood credited timing and circumstances for some of his success.
“It goes back to just being in the right spot probably at the right time with some situations,” he said. “When I got the job at Republic… that came up suddenly, and then just be able to keep maneuvering my way through to the point where I got the opportunity to coach the girls’ program—just a lot of things fell in place at the right times.”
Flood said the one trait he hopes the Republic girls basketball program continues to carry from his time at the helm is consistency, and he believes the building blocks are in place for that to continue.
“I feel like it’s in great hands with Coach (Tori) Mooneyham. She’s doing things right, and she’s got a very young group,” he said. “She is Republic through and through, so there’s no doubt she will work her tail off to keep that program relevant.”
The induction caps a year of honors for Flood, who was also selected for the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in March 2024.
