Chuck Rolinski was the “father of two-class basketball” in Illinois. He also was a co-founder of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the long-time executive secretary of the organization.
Coach Rolinski was a highly successful coach at Toluca High School. In recent years, Toluca has become part of Fieldcrest.
Chuck coached for 34 years at Toluca from 1956 to 1990. During that time his teams won 649 and lost 262. Toluca won 19 conference championships, 14 Regional titles, and 3 Sectional titles.
His 1967 team advanced to the Super-Sectional during the 1-class system, losing to eventual State Champs, Pekin. Coach Rolinski had three teams go undefeated during the regular season- 1959 (30-1), 1964 (27-1), and 1984 (28-1).
I was doing research on the 1968 Galesburg Silver Streaks, when I came across this article on Chuck Rolinski and Toluca. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
GREAT COACH, BETTER FAMILY MAN. EARLY IN CARRER HE WAS OPPONENT AND ALSO A MENTOR. ENJOYED PLAYING HIS TEAMS. MY HIDHLIGHT WAS ONE WIN AND SPEAKING AT HIS CLINIC. WORKED HIS CAMPS AND SPENDING TIME AT CAPONIS RESTUARANT EVERY FRIDAY, POST GAME COCKTAILS!!!! RIP MY FRIEND. HACK
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