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. 

Massey- How did you and Bob first meet?

Evelyn- Bob and I met at Eureka College in 1955. I was a freshman and he had just returned from a two year stint in the Army. In April of 1956 he asked me out and we walked up town to a theater and saw "The Benny Goodman Story." That was the beginning and we married in 1957. 

Massey- What was Bob's background before he came to ROVA?

Evelyn- Bob graduated from Wenona High School where played basketball and baseball. He started college at Illinois State but transferred to Chillicothe Business College in Missouri. While there, he played basketball and graduated with courses in accounting, typing, and stenography. His army draft was deferred until he graduated. Because of his typing and shorthand skills, he was sent to adjutant general school. From there he was sent to France where he was a recorder for court martial sports and investigation boards. 

He was selected to be on the baseline basketball team that barnstormed throughout the country playing other teams. He was discharged in December of 1954 and enrolled in Eureka College in the Fall of 1955 as a junior. He played on the Red Devils team and in the off-season he played on this fraternity team- Tau Kappa Epsilon. He was honored as a TKE All-American in 1957. 

Massey- What were some of the things you did as the "coach's wife?"

Evelyn- I grew up in Rock Island and I was always a sports fan. I was always a “Super Fan” for Bob’s teams. (It says so on our grave marker!) I never did keep the scorebook though. I painted huge signs to put up before the games, entertained the teams with a pizza party at the end of the season, and supported them every game. My interest in sports was spurred as a cheerleader from junior high through high school. That interest was one thing that made our dates more fun. Bob really enjoyed talking sports. 

Massey- I am sure sometimes before and sometimes after games, it was tough figuring out how to be supportive?

Evelyn- Pregame Bob usually was doing his own thing as far as his prep. He would eat a light meal- maybe a hamburger. We didn’t have our usual sit down family supper on game days. The rest of the family often ate at the Snack Shack down the street. 

After the game, it was coffee and conversation regardless of the outcome. A good neighbor once told us that he knew the results of the game by how late the lights were on at the Meredith’s. In later years, when the kids were older, Bob and I would to to Family Table for our post game ritual. He would use the condiments as players to show me and teach me how the offenses and defenses did or didn’t work in that night’s game. I learned a lot abut strategy in those sessions. 

Massey- What made Bob so successful?

Evelyn- He was an avid student of the game, and I felt he had forgotten more about basketball than most of his competitors ever knew. Fundamentals were of utmost importance to him. They were part of every practice from the first day to the last practice at the end of the season.

Massey- It is hard for a coach to please everyone. Did you have to deal with the critics?

Evelyn- Yes, there were some naysayers during his career, but he never once received a nasty phone call. The negativity occurred the next day at the restaurant out of his earshot. None of that was directed at me, and I was always treated with respect. 

Massey- Not only did you experience being the coach's wife, you also experienced being a player's mom at the same time. How did this work for you?

Evelyn- Our son, Bob, played floor general for two years, and Tom took on that role the following two years. They learned a lot of basketball at home, but it was never forced. Bob’s team in particular had a lot of pressure on them. Their soph games were played in front of huge crowds since they preceded the state team’s games. Everyone came very early so they’d have a seat for the varsity game. Tom’s team was the shortest overall team Bob had, but because of the fundamental of boxing out, they were never outrebounded. 

As far as the father/coach/son dynamic, they pretty much left all that at the gym. It wasn’t a problem at home at all. I loved watching my sons play, and I was very proud of them. 

Massey- I already asked you what Bob did as a coach to be successful. What was it about his personality that allowed him to be so successful?

Evelyn- I’ve already mentioned a couple things that made Bob a good coach. He held high standards for himself and his players. His work ethic was outstanding in all areas of his life. While coaching a game he was able to make subtle adjustments to his offense or defense that often made a big difference in the game. 

Massey- With all of Bob's success, did he ever look to move to a bigger school?

Evelyn- He wasn’t always looking to advance himself and that was an admirable trait. He had offers to move to bigger and “better” jobs, but he chose to stay and work with the material he had. He only had a couple of losing seasons, so it worked out well. Family was important, so that to, kept him from hopscotching from place to place to raise our family. We felt comfortable at Oneida. Don Moffitt summed up what made Bob a successful coach when he wrote him a letter to Bob, “…by your example, you were the personification of sportsmanship, integrity, hard work, and dedication.”

Massey- You can't talk about ROVA or Coach Meredith without talking about his 1976 team. What are some of your memories of that team?

Evelyn- ROVA had a Sweet 16 team in 1949 that lost in what would be our Super-Sectional now. There was always talk of the ‘49er’s. We thought the 74-75 ROVA team would make it to State but they got tripped up by Bushnell in the Sectional. All of the starters came back except Jim Cahill. The excitement built from the first game of the 75-76 season. Large crowds and college scouts added to the pressure. The players were so talented and intelligent, and they worked together so well that at game time they just ignored all of the hoopla and their jobs. 

At State, after beating Jay Schindler and Lawrenceville, their confidence grew and the fans went wild. The Championship game ended on a sour note with a non-call of a foul against Dave Johnson. He made 21 free throws in the game. Making one more free throw would have tied it and two more would have won the game, but wasn’t to be because they didn’t make the foul call. We got the 2nd place trophy. 

Massey- I am sure there was some disappointment about coming so close, but there was also so much pride in the achievements. What was the welcome home like?

Evelyn- In our fans hearts, they were still #1. That was proven on the way home from Champaign. At Knoxville there were fans with a banner. When we exited Route 74 onto Route 34, the highway was crowded on both sides with fans all the way to Oneida. The team loaded on a fire truck at the edge of town for a ride to the gym. A huge crowd gathered to show their love and say, “Well done!” There were people from all over the area there, not just ROVA.

Massey- There were many other great teams at ROVA during Coach Meredith's tenure. The 1983 team also went to State. How did their run go?

Evelyn- Bob had a second State team in 1983. An outstanding group of players made their way to Sweet 16 status only to be beaten by gout. Jim Pitman, who was a top notch scoring guard and team leader came down with gout after the Sectional. By the time the diagnosis was made and meds were given, it was too late for him to play in the Super-Sectional. He had no lateral movement at all. However, they could say they went as far as the ‘49er’s. By the way, Jim has never had another episode to this day.

Massey- Coaching high school basketball is certainly a family adventure. It takes sacrifice and commitment by everyone in the coach's family. Any advice you have for coach's spouses?

Evelyn- I have a sign that says,”This marriage will be interrupted by the basketball season.” For anyone (male or female) who marries a coach that will always happen. You can count on it. Enter your marriage with love, patience, understanding, and definitely take an interest in his or her work. Coaching is a year round job, and you have to be prepared for fewer family vacations, more “basketball talk,” living on the basketball schedule. In my case, I didn’t know he was going to be a coach and our older child was four when he became a JV coach and JH teacher. We slid into the lifestyle pretty easily because I loved the game too. Practices, games, scouting, summer league, pressure- all these are part of the bargain, but n the long run, they are so worth it.