HOF Insights- Implementing Major Changes in Off-Season

Coaches often make tweaks to their offense or defense in the off-season, but sometimes coaches find it necessary to make significant changes to their systems. This week on “HOF Insights,” I asked how the coaches implemented major changes in the off-season. 

1994 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

Galesburg’s Own: Andrea Sampson’s Vision to Rebuild Streaks Softball

Coach Andrea Sampson

Andrea Sampson graduated from Galesburg HS in 2019. She was a star in both basketball and softball during her Silver Streaks years. After graduating, Andrea went to Eastern Illinois University, where she played softball for the Panthers. 

Andrea chose to return to Galesburg to teach PE at GHS. This year, she was named to be the head coach of the Streaks softball team. Sampson brings the same toughness and competitiveness as a coach that she exhibited as a star athlete. In addition, she brings the knowledge and experience gained as a college athlete. 

Streaks Alumni Profile- Denzel Jones (2014) & Sabrina (Clay) Jones (2015)

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Denzel and Sabrina Jones from the GHS Classes of 2014 and 2015. 

Coaches’ Clinic- Flat OB with Ghost Screen

This flat OB is designed to set up an unusual ghost screen action. It is unusual because you have a shooter as a screener on a post player. So it puts a post defender in a tough spot of guarding a player coming off a ball screen. 

Galesburg’s Time Capsule- This Week in History (March 30, 2026)

This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

My Scout Report- Cinderella, MaxPreps, Flag Football (3-29-26)

My observations from another week of basketball, and another week of retirement…

1965 Illinois Boys Basketball State Tourney

State Champions- Collinsville

1974 NCAA Regional in Tucson

After my last season coaching I got a wonderful and thoughtful surprise from the 2023-4 Silver Streaks. With a sneaky lie, the players in collaboration with Coach Demott tricked me into going to the GHS lockeroom "to help with some boxes." When I got there, the entire squad was in the lockeroom, and they presented me with tickets for Amy and I to go to the NCAA Regional in Indianapolis. The thoughtfulness of the team and the surprise made it an afternoon that I will always smile when I think about it.

Players Playbook- Evaluating an AAU Team & Your Plan for Growth

Everyone knows that basketball players need to play basketball to improve their games. Not everyone agrees on the best way to spend your basketball time. Some would say that you are better off working on fundamentals and skills, while others would say you need to actually play the game. 

Any more, most players recognize a need in the summer to get on an AAU or travel team. 

Here are some thoughts to evaluate the programs:

Coaches’ Corner- OB Curl into Zoom

This is a nice action that college teams are using to get into a zoom action out of an out of bounds set. 

Roger Coleman, WGIL, & Galesburg in the 1960’s

Author, Jim Wyman

Jim Wyman gave a tremendous introduction for Roger Coleman into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame. I don't think I have heard a more impressive HOF speech than Jim's. The speech gives a great description of Roger but it is a sociology lesson on the role of radio, small towns and sports in the 1960's. It is MUST READING----

Coaches’ Corner- Counter for Zoom Action

Everybody runs some kind of zoom action for a shooter. This is a counter to the zoom action- taking the shooter the opposite way.

2026 Streaks Boys Track Preview

Coach Craig Hillier

Over the last 75 years, Galesburg HS has had only 3 boys track head coaches- CC VanDyke, Jerry Albright, and Craig Hillier. Coach Hillier shares a preview of this year’s Streaks Boys Track Team. 

2026 Streaks Girls Track Preview

Coach Jody Chapman

The Streaks Girls Track Team has already has some indoor meets, and will be headed into their outdoor season soon. Coach Jodi Chapman took the time to give a preview of this year’s Streaks team.