Coach Jim Cain began his 27 year Norwalk career in 1973 serving as an 8th grade math instructor until 1977 before becoming a high school guidance counselor until he retired in 2000. He was an assistant girls track coach from 1973 until 1976 and the head girls basketball Coach from 1973 to 1988. During his 15 years as the Warriors head coach the girls basketball team won eight conference championships as well as four district championships and qualified for the girls state basketball tournament in both1980 and 1981. During the 1979-80 and 1980-81 season these two teams combined for an overall record of 55-3 including a perfect 29-0 overall record in the 1980-81 season. In both of these years the Lady Warriors qualified for the Girls State Basketball Tournament in very unique format created by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in which for the first time in history there would be a four class system in which each class would crown a champion and then the winners of those four classes would then play for the overall state championship. The 1980 team claimed Norwalk’s first ever team class championship winning the 3A State Championship with a 65-59 win over perennial power Mediapolis. The Warriorettes then moved onto the State Tournament overall championship game by defeating Class 2A champion Britt 81-78, to face the 4A champions, the Ankeny Hawkettes. In one of the most exciting games in girl’s state championship history to that point, Ankeny made a 13-foot jump shot with 2 seconds remaining in the game to give Ankeny a 71-69 victory. In 1981 however, Norwalk would avenge their heartbreaking loss the previous year as they would complete a perfect 29-0 season, including their second Class 3A state championship and a rematch with the Ankeny Hawkettes in the overall state championship game. The Warriorettes claimed the Class 3A state championship with a 45-43 win over Mediapolis. A 73-70 semi-final victory over Class 2A champion Lake View-Auburn gave the Warriorettes another opportunity at the overall state title with a rematch from the previous year against Ankeny. The sequel was every bit as exciting as the previous year’s game but with a much more happier ending as Norwalk senior forward Brenda Weed launched a 23 foot jump shot with 2 seconds remaining to break a 51-51 tie and give the Warriors a 53-51 overall state championship victory. Coach Cain compiled a career record of 324 wins and 244 losses and was inducted into the Iowa Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004. Coach Cain was very active in the community as he was involved in the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church. Coach Cain passed away on July 20th, 2018. He and his wife Mary have daughters Kelly and Kris.