Basketball coach Erwin Claggett is the first African American head coach at St. Louis U. High. Throughout his life, he has faced many challenges as a Black man in America, but his many accomplishments despite these struggles reflect his determination to make an impact on the world.

Growing up, Claggett experienced many inequities in his day-to-day life. He grew up in the small town of Venice, Ill., just 15 minutes away from St. Louis.

“In my neighborhood if you went past the street I grew up on past sunset, you could be in real trouble,” said Claggett.

In such a tough environment, Claggett quickly learned to live with the disadvantages of being Black. He became very involved in his community, playing basketball, baseball and participating in a band. Through these activities, he was exposed to his white peers and was aware of their differences. He tried to, above all else, be himself and hope for the best when encountering people from different backgrounds.

“I grew up in a pretty much impoverished area,” said Claggett, “But it was a nice community where love, discipline, and hard work thrived.”

From a young age, Claggett was taught a hard work ethic from his mother. As a single mother with four children to support, she frequently had to work 12- to 16-hour days just to put food on the table.

“She was a very intelligent and strong woman,” said Claggett. “I admired her on so many levels, and she is my inspiration then and now.”

Claggett’s mother passed away from cancer last May, but he is forever grateful for her gifts to him.

“My mom always told me that I was just as good as anybody else and that I should never be intimidated by anyone regardless of color,” said Claggett.

Throughout his life, Claggett has experienced many instances of racism. He recalls being pulled over by the police countless times, being followed through the store, and being handcuffed or even having guns pulled on him for a mistaken identity. On a day-to-day basis, Claggett has had to be mindful of its existence for his own security.

“It's like the boogeyman in the closet,” Claggett said. “You never know when it is going to pop out and do damage so you have to always be on guard.”

“It's like the boogeyman in the closet. You never know when it is going to pop out and do damage so you have to always be on guard.”

Erwin Claggett

One of Claggett’s proudest achievements was being accepted into St. Louis University on an athletic scholarship and playing Division 1 basketball for SLU. He was most proud when his family could watch him play.

With basketball as his primary focus, Claggett was not initially drawn to teaching or coaching. After college, he was inspired by his mother-in-law to become a coach and teacher. He now can boast almost 300 wins as a coach during his 18-year career.

“Being a coach and teacher is like no other profession honestly,” said Claggett. “You have the opportunity to shape young lives in a positive way that will outweigh any accolades or personal achievements.”

In his athletic life, Claggett was inspired by sports legends like Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Arthur Ashe, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Tony Dorsett. However, he also drew inspiration from Black Civil Rights icons like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, W.E.B. Dubois, and Booker T. Washington.

“Mostly, I had real life heroes near me in my mom, grandma, aunts, and uncles,” said Claggett.

Along with his missions to coach and educate, Claggett also has a mission to fight for social justice.

“The Civil Rights agenda should be a daily agenda until everyone can live a life devoid from fear or injustice,” said Claggett.