It's Official- Albert & Elbert Kimbrough Field House

It is exciting that the District #205 School Board voted on Monday night to name the GHS Fieldhouse- The Albert and Elbert Kimbrough Fieldhouse. It will honor the 1957 GHS grads. The following is the letter that was sent to the School Board:

When District #205 chooses to name a building or area of the schools after individuals, it is a way for the school district to recognize and honor the achievements of individuals. The naming is also an opportunity for District #205 to educate our students and our community about individuals who have made historic contributions. The naming can also become a source of inspiration to Galesburg students to look at what is possible and to set their own dreams.

Gyms- Girls Deserve The Best

I saw a picture on social media of the UTHS girls basketball team in an open gym in the school’s main gym. The floor had been redone evidently this past off-season and it looked spectacular. Seeing the girls doing an open gym in the main gym gave me hope that maybe the girls were going to start playing there again. I couldn’t help myself, so I fired off several texts to people to ask if the girls would be moving back into the main gym. Happily, my sources indicate that the Panthers will be playing their girls games in that gym.

Streaks Scrapbook- 1997 Girls 4th in State

1997- Fourth in State    

33-2   

(State Rank #2)

The Streaks headed into the 1997-8 season after the 3rd in State finish by the 1995-6 team and the Sweet 16 finish by the 1994-5 team. Winning was expected but a return trip to State was probably not likely.

The 1997 team lost 60% of their scoring with the graduation of Sara Wood, Ami Pendry, and Jennifer Bulkeley. Wood and Pendry had been three year regulars, and Bulkeley a two year regular. 

The 1997 Streaks had a core group of Molly Watson (Sr- 5'4" Guard 19.0ppg), Melanie Pendergrass (Jr- 5'8"- Guard- 11.0ppg), Angie Galyean (Sr- 5'8"- Forward- 6.7ppg, 3.5rpg), Sarah Larson (So- 5'11"- Post- 9.7ppg, 8.7rpg), Jessica Thompson (Sr- 5'10"- Post- 7.7ppg, 5.8rpg), Megan Pacheco (Fr- 5'9"- Post- 6.5ppg, 4.8rpg), Meg Sherwood (Sr- 5'8" Guard- 3.5ppg). 

While many focused on what the Streaks lost in graduation, they missed what was returning. Watson had just signed to play D1 basketball at DePaul and was returning to start her third years as point guard. Thompson was returning as a starting post player. Larson, Sherwood, and Galyean all had been regulars. Larson slid into the starting lineup as a post. Galyean moved to the perimeter as a senior. She was limited as a shooter but gave the Streaks quick, athlete on the break. Watson would hit her over and over during the year as she sprinted the lane. And Galyean and Thompson were just what the Streaks needed at the front of their press- two long and active defenders to torment the ball. 

While Megan Pacheco was just a freshman and Sarah Larson just a sophomore, it should be noted that Pacheco, Larson, and Watson even today are in the top six of GHS career scoring. So in retrospect, the 1997 team had three of Galesburg's greatest players on their roster. 

Friday Fotos- 1997 Relentless Press

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures. This was the Galesburg press creating a turnover vs. Taylorville in the semi-finals at State in 1997. There are four Galesburg players on the floor going for a loose ball. The end result was a layup by Galesburg, and setting up the press again. 

Strategy- 1997 Molly Watson’s Play

As coaches, sometimes we think that offensively we need to make it complicated to “fool the defense,” or we need multiple plays to “trick the defense.” I was probably guilty of that too many times thru the years. In 1996-7 season, I was not guilty of trying to be too complicated. 

In 1997, we shot in transition off steals, rebounds, and made baskets about 25% of the time. We ran one simple action 50% of the time, and then ran others sets 25% of the time. Is this a successful formula, or is that too simple? In 1997 it was a successful formula. Galesburg went 27-0 in the regular season, ranked #2 in Illinois, and finished 4th in State. 

Why did something this simple work? The answer was Molly Watson. Molly was returning for her third year as starting point guard and that fall had signed with DePaul, a perennial top 20 program. At 5’4”, she was ver good. Rock Island coach, Rod Leatherman labeled her as,”The best girls basketball player I have ever seen.”

Faith and Coaching

In conversations with Thom Sigel, I became aware of the FCA Coach's Huddle that he is a part of. Earlier, I did an interview with Thom where he discussed the group- how it worked, who was involved, and the impact the group had on him. 

The conversation with Thom got me thinking about how religion and faith can impact individual coaches. In this blog, I have had an opportunity to see how five coaches feel their faith has impacted their coaching. Their thoughtfulness and caring for their student-athletes is inspiring. 

Jason Marquis- Bureau Valley, Head Boys Basketball Coach. He has been coaching at BV for 16 years, and been their head coach for 12 years.

David Terronez- Bettendorf, Head Boys Cross Country and Track Coach. He has been in this position for the last 10 years. He also was Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Rock Island for 12 years, and has been involved coaching basketball during this time. 

Ryan Kelley- Geneseo, Junior High Boys Basketball Coach and HS Golf Coach. Ryan has coached for 30 years as a HS boys and girls basketball coach. 

Thom Sigel- Retired- Thom was Head Boys Basketball Coach at Rock Falls and Rock Island. (If he ever comes back, it would seem the only "Rock" left would be Rockridge.)

Andrew Hofer- He was formerly the Head Football Coach at Mercer County. Today he is director of Three Rivers FCA. 

Favorite Gyms- Ranked by Coaches, Players, Fans

There are many great high school gyms in Illinois. Every coach, every player, and every fan probably believes they have the best gym in Illinois. 

In my idle time, I got to thinking about some of my all-time favorite gyms. I haven't been to all of the gyms in Illinois, but in 50 years of coaching I did see a lot of the gyms. As I began to make my list, it made me wonder what other coaches, players, and fans would consider as their best gyms. As I got back other people's lists of "best gyms," it became apparent that people's "best gyms" aren't just about the actual buildings but also about the memories coaches, players and fans have connected to the gyms. I asked Thom Sigel, Mike Reynolds, Barry Swanson, Ryan Webber, Bob Anderson, Jason Shay, Joey Range, Sean Hanlon, Jay Redfern, Amy Massey, Mark Massey, Amanda Gunther-Egli, Andie Allison-Leibach, Sara Wood, Chad Thompson, Lexi Demott, Kelsi Legge, Jenna Bicego-Wesselhoeft, Mark Harden Jr, Mike Cooper, Jay Hatch, and Megan Young.

Evelyn Meredith- The Coach’s Wife

There are a lot of people needed to make a successful basketball team- players, coaches, managers, parents of players, and fans. Perhaps one of the most important people are the coach's spouses. 

When I first started coaching at Galesburg, ROVA boys basketball always had great teams. Bob Meredith was the coach at ROVA for decades, and they were always successful. He was someone admired by coaches in the area. He was admired for not only his coaching ability but for being someone who was a class act. He and his players always represented ROVA in a positive manner. 

Bob's wife, Evelyn was part of the operation. She did many "little things" that were actually "big things" that contributed to the ROVA program. Being a coaches wife requires many things- knowing when and how to counsel, juggling the family schedule, and being the ultimate supporter. Evelyn did so much as a coach's wife. I was excited to ask her some questions about being a coach's spouse. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1957 Boys Elite 8

1957- Boys-Elite 8     

23-7                         

(State Rank-Unranked)

To understand the 1957 Silver Streaks, and more importantly to understand their significance, one needs to take a step back and look Illinois and Galesburg during this period of time. Galesburg was founded by George Washington Gale, a Presbyterian minister, who was a strong abolitionists. Galesburg has a rich and proud history connected with anti-slavery and the Underground Railroad. There is a huge difference between people being anti-slavery and people being for racial equality. By 1957 Galesburg was like many rural communities, still struggling with the concept of racial equality. 

By the year 1950, only 2 African-Americans had ever been allowed to play for the Galesburg High School basketball team. The story is told by older African-Americans of the excitement of an all-black intramural team in the 1940’s beating the Silver Streak varsity team in an arranged game. Pete Thierry, a 1953 grad, became only the third African-American allowed to play for GHS. 

Friday Fotos- 1957 Albert & Elbert Kimbrough

Kimbroughs with legendary, Coach CC VanDyke

Albert and Elbert Kimbrough were 1957 graduates of GHS, and are considered by many to have been the greatest athletes in Silver Streaks history. 

The Kimbroughs were the stars of the 1956 football team that went undefeated and is considered the best football team in GHS history. Albert set the school record of 295 points scored in a season, 45 career touchdowns, and averaging 9.0 yards per carry during his career. While Albert got the glory carrying the ball, Elbert was his blocking fullback. Both were the stars of the defense.

Strategy- 1957 Streaks 23 vs Rock Island 21

Throughout the history of the game of basketball, coaches have wanted to use a strategy of “stalling” or “delaying” if they were to get a lead. According to the book, The Real Hoosiers, in the 1930’s it was not unusual for a team to have the lead at the beginning of the second half and hold the ball for the entire second half. 

One of the most famous delay tactics was used by Dean Smith at North Carolina in 1977. Phil Ford used the “four corners” office when Carolina got the lead. With “four corners,” Ford handled the ball with each of his teammates in one of the corners of the half-court. Ford would dribble and eventually pass to a teammate. After he passed, he would run and get it back. Shortly after this strategy was developed, rule makers introduced the shot clock.

Old School Coaches- Locker Room Motivation

I am hoping to do this segment- "Old School Coaches" on a regular basis. I have put together a crew of retired coaches, who were highly successful in their high school coaching career. My hope is to post one question to them every two weeks. 

Bob Anderson- Williamsfield HS

Bob is retired as boys basketball coach at Williamsfield. At a school of only 89 students, in 45 years, his teams won 732 games along with numerous tourney and conference championships. His 1997 team made it to the Elite 8. 

Mike Cooper- Ottawa HS

Mike is the retired Athletic Director at Ottawa HS. He was varsity girls basketball coach for 22 years, as well as sophomore football coach for many years. He was inducted in the the IBCA HOF.

Tim Engebretson- United HS

He was varsity head football coach for many years at United HS. He also has coached basketball at different levels. His 2005 team won the Illinois State Title, and Tim is in the Illinois Football Coaches' HOF as well as the United HOF.

Greg King- Sterling HS

In his head coaching career at Sterling, his football teams went 78-28, and had 10 straight play-off appearances and 5 conference titles. In addition to his success as a football coach, he was inducted in the Illinois Athletic Director's Association HOF. 

Mark Massey- Clinton HS

Mark was the head volleyball coach at Clinton for 38 years. His teams won 818 games, and twice took second in State. He is in the Iowa Volleyball HOF and Clinton HS HOF.

Thom Sigel- Rock Falls/Rock Island HS

Thom coached basketball for 32 years. His teams won 502 games, and he has the distinction of winning the State Title at both Rock Falls and Rock Island. Thom is in the IBCA HOF.

Mike Tracey- Alleman, UTHS, Moline HS

Mike coached football at Alleman, UT, and Moline for over 20 years. By most, he is considered the premier football coach in WB6 history. His teams won 140 games, and twice finished second in State. Mike is in the Alleman HS HOF and the Illinois Football HOF. He was also selected Illinois AD of the Year. 

Tom Wierzba- Farmington HS

Tom coached basketball for 38 years, coaching 26 years at Farmington. At Farmington, his teams won 7 sectionals and made 5 trips to State, including a third place and fourth place finish. For his career, his teams won 611 games. In addition, he coached softball at Farmington for 10 years- going 225-50. His softball teams won the State title twice and took fourth once. He has been inducted into both the IBCA and Greater Peoria Sports HOF's.

My Question

What quotes, sayings, or motivational messages would you want to put up in your locker room?

College, WNBA, NBA Coaches- Experience Needed To Get Hired

I decided to take a look at the experience level of the coaches in NBA, WNBA, Women’s Big Ten, and Men’s Big Ten. I realize there are different factors that determine the success of coaches, but experience is definitively one of the factors that may predict success. In addition, maybe the amount of experience in the coaches indicates the seriousness of a school or professional organization. 

The following stats are all looking at the present coaches of each of these teams, and what there experience was when they were first hired by this team. For example, Gregg Popovich has been head coach of the Spurs since 1996, but I am looking at what his experience was when he was hired for that position.

Total Years of Experience When First Hired

Women’s Big 10 Coaches.    19.9 years

Men’s Big 10 Coaches.         19.8 years

NBA Coaches.                     15.8 years

WNBA Coaches.                   13.8 years

Galesburg JH Tips Off

The Galesburg JH Girls Basketball teams will get started with their seasons this week. There schedule for the first two weeks looks like this:

Sept 23- Mon- At Orion     5:30/6:30pm  (7th listed first, 8th listed second)

Sept 25- Wed- At Sherrard  5:30/6:30pm

Sept 26- Thu- At Canton     5:00/6:00pm

Sept 30- Mon- Costa (Home)  5:00/6:00pm  (Home games at Wicall Gym)

Oct 1- Tue- Sherrard (Home)  5:30/6:30pm

Oct 3- Thu- Farmington (Home)  5:00/6:00pm

Entire 7th Grade Schedule- 7th Grade Schedule

Entire 8th Grade Schedule- 8th Grade Schedule

Strategy- Fever Offense

This is some simple things the Fever run at the end of transition. 

#0= Mitchell

#1= Smith

#7= Boston

#10= Hull

#22= Clark