Old School Coaches- Thom Sigel’s Blue Print for Success

Thom Sigel has won a State Championship at both Rock Falls and Rock Island. He has won many games and many championships. Thom is a legend in Illinois basketball coaching- the best of the best. 

The most impressive thing about Thom is that he is the same person he was when I first met him as a recent grad of Knox College and a new assistant boys coach at Galesburg High School. 

If you were a school administrator who wanted to bring in a coach who would win basketball games, Coach Sigel would be your man. If you were parents and you wanted a basketball coach who would treat your sons with respect and teach them values to become solid young men, Coach Sigel would be your man. With Thom, he had that rare combination in coaching- knowledgeable of basketball, driven to win and still humble and principled. 

I value the friendship that we developed thru the years. He is the kind of guy you know you can text at 3am to ask for suggestions on side OB’s. He may not answer ‘til 8am, but he will answer. 

Damon T. Colvin-

I worked with Coach Sigel for all 20 of his years at Rocky.  5 as Head Freshman, 13 as Assistant Sophomore and 2 as Assistant Varsity.  I am still an assistant varsity coach under Marc Polite at Rocky.  

I believe Coach Sigel was successful because of his basketball genius, adaptability, tenacity, compassion, faith, and integrity.  It is VERY rare for a coach to possess all of these aspects.  He is a basketball savant who also knows how to relate to his coaches and his players.  He lives the faith that he professes, and he puts in the hours and the effort to hone and improve his craft.  I truly believe that he was CALLED to do what he accomplished.

His quote:  Everyone wants to win - but only a select few do what it takes.  I am a basketball coach, but also a Pastor.  That quote is applicable to athletics, academics, religion, and the workforce.  He led by example and maintained a standard for players to follow and live up to.

Thom has had a tremendous impact on my life.  I always believed that it was possible to be a great coach and a great person at the same time.  Thom solidified and crystalized my belief that you don't have to scream, curse, or treat players poorly to get maxiumum effort and results.  I truly believed that when Thom was hired - and I told him this in year 1 - that you can win doing it the right way and that he would do that.  And do that Thom did.  Not just an outstanding coach, but an even better person.  I strive to be the same way.

One of my favorite memories is the coaching sessions during the state finals in 2011.  It takes a higher level of preparation and focus than ever before to win at that level and on that stage.  I feel very blessed to be in the room, behind the curtain, assisting in the preparation for the state semi-finals and the final game.  Thom was masterful.  He had won a title before so he was prepared.  We had plenty of adversity during this time but it seemed like Thom pressed all the right buttons because he had prepared us for so many scenarios.  We may not have been more talented than the semifinal opponent - Chicago Brooks (they had 4 players get D1 scholarships, we had 1.) but we definitely were the better prepared team.  Then in the final, when Chasson fouled out - we were the team with the most resolve.  A master class in basketball coaching that I had a VIP seat to experience it.

Chris Buikema RFHS Assistant Basketball Coach

I joined the Staff at Rock Falls right after the State Championship, the summer of 1999. I had almost 10 years of coaching already, however Coach Thom Sigel taught me the aspects of a winning program, which is different from a winning team.

- Practices are like a game, Practices after stretching would start with a perfection drill, players were immediately locked in and focused.

- Every game you play, practice to win and expect to win, Coach would even in bigger games address the players to act like they expected to win this game...as that was the case.

Coach Sigel had a number of Elite Eight tee-shirts made up before out Sweet 16 game with Rock Island Alleman...1 year after the Title year...Tee-shirt on the back said "We're Back"...and indeed we were.

There was never any taunting or unsportsmanship, the scoreboard was the proof.

- Coach Sigel had an attention to detail, practices, team dress code, even to the laces on the shoes. Rock Falls had team shoes, Varsity Team changed black laces to white, why because it was special. Details matter in a game, in a practice, in the program.

- Coach Sigel's most unique trait, given the fact I have coached with several other Hall of Fall Coaches, was the ability to get more out of the kids. Many Coaches yell, scream, chew on a kids butt, call kids out, not Thom, he had a way of being critical, while modeling what to do or improve on, but never yelling, screaming, getting personal or chewing them out.  As sitting on the bench, you could hear the conversation, but probably not the fans in the second row. Players respected him for that.

I guess two final stories that sum him up...

First one Coach Siglel was all about looking the part, you look good, you play good. Jersey's were tucked in always, I remember many times our point guard Jorge Acosta standing back off free throws, would point out to the opposing player to get him to tuck his jersey in...sure enough the kids would be tucking the jersey in.

The second, day of my first game as an assistant coach sitting on the bench  for Rock Falls, Coach told me to wear a suit coat or sport coat, a game in town at Sterling's Fieldhouse, I showed up with shirt and suit jacket - NO tie...Coach looked at me and said you are at Rock Falls, we were ties to games. That game I had to sit behind the bench. I always wore ties from then on. A learning experience just like the players that played under him, he also modeled and taught many more people around him too.

Thom moved onto Rock Island several years later, but I still hold onto the valuable lessons he taught me, and the memories made. Those lessons have permeated into others sports I have coached, including the last 10 years of RF Golf Head Coach. 

Logan Wynn

I was an assistant coach under Thom Sigel from 2013-2018 at RIHS. Prior to that we coached Quad City Elite AAU together in the summertime. 

Coach Sigel was successful for many different reasons. One of his greatest strengths would be his attention to detail. I know a lot of people mention this one but in all of my years of being around the game I have never seen anyone as detailed and prepared as Coach Sigel. His organizational skills were second to none and this is why he ran a winning program from 3rdgrade all the way through. 

“Pick a Great parking spot not the first one you see” He would tell our players to not just take the first available shot (parking spot at a store) instead, find a great one.

Coach Sigel has taught me so many lessons in life. I think one of the most important things I have taken from him is to not get too up and down. Trust the process and good things will come through being prepared and staying consistent with all of the little things each day. He is a model to young coaches on how to act not only on the court but off the court as well.Because of him I have learned how to be a much more patient husband and father off the court. 

Going to State Farm each year for the annual Holiday tournament was probably my favorite time of the season. Each year we would grow significantly as a team from all of the time spent together at State Farm. We also won a few first place trophies as well. On a funny side note, Coach Sigel would always have a stock pile of Candy Fish hidden somewhere in the hotel room.

Mike Menchaca -

I graduated in 2001 from RF. Played for Thom from 1999-2001. Head soph boys coach at RF in 2010. Current Fulton Girls since 2013. 

I believe what made Coach Sigel so successful was first preparation- I don’t believe there is anyone out there that watches / dissects as much hoops as Thom. His preparation and attention to detail always stood out to me. I also believe his demeanor- and how he sent messages to his players and teams were important to him. Calm under the most tense of moments that helped his players play controlled, and ready. 

I think the “Everyone wants to win, but only a select few do what it takes” motto he used often and was printed on our team shirts, along with the Route 40 logo “Road to state” stood out to me the most. Having visualized, and believed in what he felt his teams could do. 

There were a few things that Coach Sigel has said that stood out that directly had an impact on me. But mostly came after, and as a coach. Hearing after a rough season “ I am proud of you” goes along way coming from him as he often checks in to see how season is going for me, and there are times I’ve reached and asked what he would do. He always answers the call. Coach is someone I’ve always looked up to and wanted to make proud. He’s a role model for me. 

A favorite memory of mine is probably playing in the State tournament, always remember checking in and knocking down your first few shots and hearing Norm Van Lier and Dave Kaplan call the play by play.

Trey Sigel

I played for him from 2012 through 2014 (3 seasons) 

Definitely his work ethic and being able to get the most out of his players/staff. I saw it first hand living in the same house. After most games, the staff would come over and watch film of that game late into the night. There was a time when I was young and Rocky lost at Quincy. When he got home around 1am, he stayed up and was watching the game until 3am. It rarely ever stopped. It wasn't just during the season, this includes summer camps and shootouts for the team. Always was present in his work. 

The one quote that stuck with me was "Everyone wants to win, but only a select few do what it takes". That quote was on the summer camp t-shirts year after year through grade school until varsity. He had a policy that we had to wear the matching team shoes and white socks for games. Call me old school but I always appreciated that rule. Little different now...

I had the privilege of him impacting me as a coach and as a father. A lot of the lessons I learned on the court translated to off the court, and vice versa. I was able to spend a lot of time with him during my high school days and it helped shape me for success in college and beyond with my profession.

Brian Vance

Brian Vance. Played for Coach 1996-1999

Intelligence. Coach is a smart guy, not just basketball smart but intelligent. Also, his passion. His drive and dedication as well. The last thing, and maybe the most important, was his personality. At least at Rock Falls, he really had an amazing relationship with the players, imo.

I will take this another route: he really changed the culture at Rock Falls. A lot of talent was obviously coming through, but there's a good chance we don't reach our potential without him. He came in and painted the gym, got new uniforms, got new practice gear, we played all summer, etc.

He's a lifelong friend.

Favorite Memories- Celebrating championships