HOF Insights- Basketball Coaches October Checklists

In the “HOF Insights”, I ask a group of successful, veteran coaches to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Each week, I ask a different question. The questions can be focused on helping coaches, parents or athletes to have a more successful athletic experience.  

October is a busy month for basketball coaches. Coaches are trying to finalize plans for the upcoming season. It involves everything from organizing equipment to organizing the staff. Coaches want to hit the ground running when practices start in November. This group of coaches share their October checklist. 

Massey Quiz #65- Dog Breeds

I am going to show you a picture of a dog, your job is to identify what the dog’s breed is. 

Coaching 101- Daily Dozen

Years and years ago, I attended a clinic where Sam Alford (Steve Alford’s father) of New Castle, Ind gave a talk on developing a program. One of the concepts he talked about was giving his JH coaches a set of 5 drills to do each day in practice. The idea was that the first 30-45 minutes of each JH practice “belonged” to him as the Varsity coach. 

I thought it seemed like a great concept. The person who we hired to coach any of our lower level programs (JH thru FS), they were often inexperienced in coaching and often limited in their basketball knowledge. 

1983 Illinois Boys Basketball Class AA State Tourney

State Champions- Springfield Lanphier

2nd- Peoria Central

3rd- Harvey Thornton

4th- Chicago Marshall

Galesburg’s Role in Stopping Al Capone

Prohibition & Al Capone

Prohibition in the United States began in 1920 with the passage of the 18th Amendment. It ended in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment. 

During this period of time, Al Capone in Chicago built a huge financial empire selling alcohol. By the late 1920’s, Capone was pulling in an estimated $100 million selling illegal alcohol. That would be equivalent to over $1 billion in today’s dollars. The center of his empire was on the southside of Chicago, but it is estimated that the Capone mob controlled over 6,000 speakeasies in Illinois.

Streaks Alumni Profile- Curt Morgan 1978

Today’s “Streaks Alumni Profile” features Curt Morgan from Galesburg HS’s class of 1978. 

Curt has been highly successful in the business world. He has had a positive impact in every area that he has worked because of his strong leadership skills. 

His success is no surprise to any of us who knew Curt while he was at Galesburg High School. Curt was a focused student at GHS, and he showed tremendous social skills. He was leader through his humility and respect for others. 

I am so glad that Curt was willing to share his memories and his journey after  GHS. 

1983 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champion- Quincy Notre Dame

2nd- Rushville

3rd- Walther Lutheran

4th- Bloomington Central Catholic

This Week in Galesburg History- Sept 28, 2026

 

 

“This Week in Galesburg History” 

Can a woman become President?

What’s on TV

Teachers are fighting

Karaoke at Northgate

Streaks face winless opponent 

No more concession lines

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, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears on Mondays on the WGIL website and the Massey Basketball Blog.

1983 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Lawrenceville

2nd- Flanagan

3rd- McLeansboro

4th- Havana

Inside Hoops- Building Man to Man Culture

Early in my career, the varsity players did not have much basketball training before they got to high school. They had not played in the YMCA, they had not gone to camps when young, and most had not even had JH experience. 

I knew I wanted to have my teams play man to man defense, but early I made an horrible mistake. I looked at everything that I thought needed to be taught, and decided that teaching man to man to the first teams would be too much. So I took the easy route. Although we pressed some 1-2-1-1 and some 2-2-1, our primary defense was to sit in a 2-3 zone. It was not a 2-3 “matchup”, it was a straight zone. As a player had never played 2-3, I knew nothing about it, we just sat in a 2-3 zone. 

Hall of Fame Insight: What Do You Miss?

This was the first of the Hall of Fame Insights- it was posted July 30, 2024

I am hoping to do this segment- "Hall of Fame Insight" 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 pose one question to them, every two weeks. 

Massey Basketball Quiz #5- Legendary Illinois HS Coaches from ‘30’s thru ‘60’s

   

 

 

Here are 16 pictures of legendary Illinois HS coaches from the 1930’s thru the 1970’s. This is just some of the legendary coaches- it is not intended to be all the legendary coaches of that era. 

I will give you a picture of the coach, and one of the schools they coached- your job is to name the coach. 

The answers are at the end of the quiz. 

Vince Lombardi Quotes

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victory.

If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?

Legends- Layne Langholf, Todd Hursey, John Gross

(This was originally published January, 2025.)

One of the goals for coaches and players is to win a State Championship. I have asked 8 high schools basketball coaches to reflect upon their championship seasons. Today Layne Langhoff (Peoria Notre Dame), Todd Hursey (Richwoods), and John Gross (Richwoods) reflect upon their championship seasons. 

It should be noted that by doing this blog page, there may be some of my former players who send me hate mail. That will be ok, I miss my players so whether good or bad messages, it will be great to hear from them!!!

1966 Galesburg HS Reflector