Sometimes our biases cloud how we look at things. I don't know if that is the case with with me in what I am writing. I believe college players should be paid, just not with the present system. And I believe they should be able to transfer but not with the total, unlimited freedom of today. Usually when people talk about the transfer portal, the focus on how it is impacting competitive balance that we once were used to seeing.
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Sunday, October 13, 2024
Coaching 101- HS Coaches Can Learn From College Transfer Portal
Sometimes our biases cloud how we look at things. I don't know if that is the case with with me in what I am writing. I believe college players should be paid, just not with the present system. And I believe they should be able to transfer but not with the total, unlimited freedom of today. Usually when people talk about the transfer portal, the focus on how it is impacting competitive balance that we once were used to seeing.
Coaching 101- Coaching Isn't Just Coaching
I don’t know how many times over the years I have heard a coach complain, ”I wish I could just coach and not have to worry about all the other stuff.”
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Streaks Scrapbook- 1959 Boys 3rd in State
Boys 1959-
The 1959 Galesburg basketball team is considered by many to be the best Silver Streak basketball team of all-time. Obviously deciding such a thing is open to debate. Clearly, the ‘59 Streaks must be in that debate.
Anyone who knows history would not be surprised for me to start out talking about how a transfer impacted the team, but they would be surprised to find out that i am talking about two transfers that took place clear back in 1950. Two fourth grade boys moved into Galesburg on the exact same day in 1950. Jimmie Carr was from Texas, and Otis Cowan was from Arkansas. They lived a block from each other, and were in the same fourth grade class.
They developed a relationship early on with Coach John Thiel. They lived within a couple blocks of GHS and the Steele Gym. The Streaks varsity would hold evening practices on Wednesdays that were open to the public. Cowan and Carr as 8th graders would walk over to watch practice. Coach Thiel would take time to talk to them and set them up to do some stats or run the scoreboard for him.
Today, Jimmie Carr is famous as an all-time great radio announcer for Streaks basketball. People probably don’t realize how great he was as a player. In 1959, Carr (6’0”) and Cowan (5’10”) were Galesburg’s starting backcourt. Together they brought havoc on opponents with their quickness and pressure defense, and offensively pushed the ball. Together with what they could do offensively and defensively, veterans considered them one of the all-time best backcourts in GHS history.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
IHSA Tourney Proposal- High Seeds Host
In Illinois in the 1930’s, there was a period of time when the team who took second in the Regional tourney also advanced to the Sectional level. The IHSA has made adjustments throughout the years.
Monday, October 7, 2024
1959- Steele Gyms Last Season
The 1959 Streaks were excited because they thought they were going to be the first team to play at the new high school located out on Fremont St. Because there water issues, the opening of the school was delayed. So the '59 Streaks were the last team to play in Steele Gym.
1959- Jimmie Carr- All-Time Great Streak
When people think about Galesburg basketball, nobody is more associated with the Streaks than Jimmie Carr. He has covered the Streaks on the radio for decades and still supports both the girls and the boys basketball teams.
It all started for Jimmie as a player. Jimmie was one of the best players on one of the best teams in GHS history.
The following is an interview with Jimmie Carr:
Jimmie Carr- I Was So Excited, I Could Hardly Sleep
This Sunday- Streaks Scrapbook- 1959 Boys 3rd in State
Old School Coaches- What Does Old School Mean
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.
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:
Sunday, October 6, 2024
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.
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Streaks Scrapbook- 1997 Girls 4th in State
1997- Fourth in State 33-2 (State Rank #2)
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.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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.
Monday, September 30, 2024
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.