Success & Failure

For some defeat motivates and makes them hungrier.
For some defeat discourages and makes them quit.
For some success wets their appetite and makes them hungrier.
For some success satisfies them and makes them content and lazy.
* Taken from 1995 Streaks Summer Notebook

Jamie Johnson- Building Team Chemistry

When it comes to team chemistry, Jamie Johnson is our team leader. She sets an example for everyone- players and coaches- with her ability to interact and be interested in all of her teammates. When they are just hanging out before a game, she will interact with anyone. She is not only someone we all enjoy being around, she clearly expresses to her teammates that they are all important to her.

Possession Analysis

The "System" focuses on five goals- 1) FGA, 2) Threes Att., 3) Offensive Rebound %, 4) Forced Turnovers, and 5) Shot Differential. Another way to analyze basketball with stats is a method that to the best of my knowledge was started by Dean Smith. He chose to analyze his team's offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency by looking at Total Possessions, and figuring what you did on those possessions.

Work Habits

"Before I got in the ring, I'd have already won or lost it on the road. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses- behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali

"I'd Run All Over the Place Too If...."

Quote of the night--

"What's tough about them," Harris said, "is that they are constantly all over the place." The Streaks substitute five players every one or two minutes. "I'd run all over the place too if I could rest every other minute," Harris added.

Trying To Increase Intensity Level

There are several different key components of the “System.” The obvious things are the 3 point shooting, subbing 5 for 5, subbing often, and pressing all over. But probably the most significant concept of the “System” is the quest to get players to play the game harder than they are used to playing. Quite simply the attempt is to change the mind set from that of a distance runner concerned about pace to the mind set of a sprinter who pins their ears back and just goes. 

Wharton Field House

Wharton Field House was built in 1928. It is one building where both my father and I coached basketball games. My father coached at Fulton High School in the 1930's. During that era, Fulton had some good small school teams so my father scheduled Moline. Back then a small school did not only have its hands full playing a school with about 10 times its enrollment, the small school had to adjust to the larger courts the big schools had.

Jay & Lori Hatch- Two Coaches in One House

Jay and Lori Hatch share an interesting basketball background. Both of them were successful as high school athletes and then as college athletes. Lori was an All-American player on a National Championship team, while playing for William Penn. Both then coached in the Quad Cities. Lori was a successful head coach at Bettendorf, Jay at Alleman.


So far you may be saying this is interesting but you can probably think of other former athletes who got married, or of coaches who are married. But there is more to the story-- both of them have coached teams to State Championships. Lori was an assistant coach when Bettendorf took second on three occasions, then she took over as head coach and they won the Iowa State Title. Jay has coached a State Champ in both girls basketball and in softball. Tell me you know some other couples who have both coached teams to a State Championship- wow!

Jay and Lori are married and now have two daughters. Jay still teaches and coaches at Alleman, Lori is not coaching now but teaching at Bettendorf.

Dennis Radabaugh Pictures

 These are pictures of Dennis Radabaugh in the 1960-61 basketball season for Savanna. Radabaugh led the state of Illinois in scoring that year. For more indepth look, read "When Adolf Rupp Came to Savanna."

Myra Diggins- Quietly(?) Intense

There are some players who impress people because they always play hard. Myra has always been one of those players. Because of injuries last year, she moved up and played big minutes on the varsity. She surprised everyone by how much energy she brought to the varsity. Her intensity is contagious. 

Developing Shot in Youth Players

A friend coaching a youth team was asked for some shooting ideas. They said their team was made up of 7-10 year olds who shot with two hands.

I always tell the younger kids that in camp when we do drills they have to work to do it correctly. In games, they do whatever works for them. In games it is not going to be enough of a habit that they will use correct technique. Things I have done with younger kids--

1995-6 "Pressure Basketball"

The following is taken from preseason handout to the Streaks team in 1995-6. I was taken back by how much it sounds like what we are trying to do. We may have been a lot more of a System team than we dreamed. This is what was given to the 1995-6 team before the start of the season:

More Pictures from Charleston

Brenna Saline- Definitely STUDENT-ATHLETE

People think that coaches/teachers are supposed to have an impact on the lives of athletes/students. But it also works the other way. Athletes/students can have a positive impact on coaches/teachers. For me, one of those athletes was Brenna Saline. She was one of the hardest workers we have had in girls basketball at Galesburg HS. No one outworked Brenna. 

When I look at back at some of the best and most enjoyable players I have gotten to coach, Brenna Saline would certainly be one of the players I would think about. She has a tremendous drive to succeed, and it is never just talk, she is willing to commit the time and effort to succeed. I am sure glad I got to coach Brenna.

Athletic Scholarships & Financial Aid

Buying a car is sometimes financially a tough decision. You may only buy a new car every 4-5 years so it is not something you are comfortable doing. You are spending a lot of money, and you are not sure if you are getting as good of a deal as if you went someplace else.

Even worse are the stories about the little old lady who has relied on her husband to buy the family car for decades, he dies, and now she has to figure out how to buy a new car. She may have bought a car for herself when she was 18 but has not done that for 50 years.

In many cases, when parents start into the process of helping their child figure out a college to go to, they are like the little old lady, they are doing something they have either never done, or have not done for 30 years.