Winning State Championships- Langholf, Hursey, Gross

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!!!

Layne Langholf- Peoria Notre Dame

Layne coached 13 years at Canton. Before Layne took over, in the previous 27 years, Canton had only 13 winning season. Under Layne, they had winning season 10 of 13 years. He moved to coach at Peoria Notre Dame. In his 7th at PND season, the Irish went 34-4 and won the State Championship. 

Previous Trips to State- None

Previously Farthest Advance in State Series- Regional Finals

Years As Head Coach When Won First State Title- 20th

Year Won First Title- 2024

Massey-- Did you go into the season thinking you could win a State Championship?

Coach Langholf- Our staff thought our kids had a chance to be special.  We had great guard play with Mya Wardle, Julia Mingus and Emy Wardle. We had a lot of long athletes, the best being Kaitlin Cassidy,  and with Lexi Baer transferring from Richwoods we had two elite shooters with her and Mingus.  Our first three kids off the bench were 6’0 athletes.  Dropping to 2A helped us avoid the gauntlet of the 3A sub-sectional.  

Massey- Did you at some point talk to the team about winning state? 

Coach Langholf- We did not use the “S” word throughout the season.  We talked about having the chance to play on the last weekend of the season.  We felt if we stayed healthy and developed some toughness we had a chance to play at Redbird. 

Massey- Was there a play in the championship game that made you say to yourself – we are going to win state? 

Coach Langholf-  Obviously, Emy hitting the shot off the BLOB with 1.6 left made us think we had a chance, HAHA.  

We had a nice run to the end the 3rd quarter with Mya, Kaitlin and Julia all making big shots. We knew our kids were playing with confidence.  Emy was unguardable in the 4th quarter and scores all 7 points.  

Massey- What are the craziest things you remember from the first hour after you won state?  

Coach Langholf- Not much of that day was “crazy” but several things come to mind after we won the title.  

When Kaitlin stole Nashville’s inbound pass and the horn went off, I remember raising my arms and hugging each of my assistants.  After the on court interview I walked over to find my family who was all in the front row, directly across for our bench.  I first saw our middle son Dominic and hugged him. Then I saw my high school coach, Joe Murphy, and his wife Barb.  I then gave my mom a hug and then our oldest son, Dylan .  Dylan had been diagnosed with cancer on July 1st.  I gave him a long hug.  Finally, I hugged my wife Maureen.  

Our team had a great ride home to PND and fans and families met there to welcome us home.  

Massey- How has winning state impacted you personally going forward? 

Coach Langholf- In the 10 months since winning our title, the impact of winning a state chp, the first girls championship in PND history, has been wild.  I am still seeing people who tell me “we were at the game”.  The PND, Bergan, Spalding community has been amazing to our players, staff and my family.  

Massey- How often do you think about that run? 

Coach Langholf- I have probably thought of our title everyday because it was so recent.  

Todd Hursey- Richwoods

Coach Hursey has one of the most impressive resumes before he became a head coach. As a high school student, he filmed games for Richwoods and legendary Coach Mary Hungate. Hungate is considered by many to be the all-time best coach in downstate Illinois history. Then he served as assistant coach for John Gross at Richwoods when they won State in 2005 and 2009. 

Previous Trips to State- Elite 8 (2010), Sweet 16 (2011) (2012) 

Previously Farthest Advance in State Series- Elite 8 (2010)

Year as Head Coach When Won First State Title- 7th

Year Won First Title- 2018

Massey- Did you go into the season thinking you could win state? 

Coach Hursey- I wouldn’t say we went in thinking we could win state, but we went into it with the motto, “unfinished business” after being knocked out of the sectional championship the previous year.  Morton was on a 3 year run of winning state and we felt like if we could beat them, we would be able to play in the super-sectionals, and who knows from there.   

Massey- Did you at some point talk to the team about winning state? 

Coach Hursey- We didn’t talk about winning state, but we talked about having the team to get the opportunity to play at Redbird in the final 4.  We beat Morton, at Morton, in their Thanksgiving tournament.  Having that success gave us the mindset that we could win the sectionals and advance to the game that takes us to state.   

I was on John Gross’s staff in 2005 and 2009.  Both years we went to state and won the championship.  It is so difficult to get there from this area, and then to win it all, both times, was amazing.  We did not take it for granted that getting there was a guaranteed win.  So, in 2018 we didn’t take it for granted and the girls were focused and dedicated to the game and their team and got it done!! 

From the players perspective, the players were dedicated in the off season and put in quality time to prepare for the state run.  Of course, winning state is a goal of many good teams but we really took the season game by game, taking everyone's best shot night after night.   

Massey- Was there a play in the championship game that made you say to yourself – we are going to win state? 

Coach Hursey- Yes.  We were up late in the 4th quarter and Kourtney Crane drove to the basket on the left side and dropped a bounce pass to Tianna Johnson for a layup.  There was just over a minute left and that put us up 3 possessions.

At that point in the game, Nazareth had yet to score in the 4th quarter.  They didn’t score in the 4th quarter until 23 seconds left and they banked in a 3 from the left wing.   

Massey- What are the craziest things you remember from the first hour after you won state? 

Coach Hursey- The text messages coming through from anyone and everyone.  That was awesome.  I also remember not being able to see my family because they made them leave the arena after the awards and we were still on the floor.   

I also will never forget the call on the way to Redbird from Mary Kay Hungate wishing us good luck.  I videotaped the games for her at Richwoods while in high school.   

Massey- How has winning state impacted you personally going forward? 

Coach Hursey- I am honored to be mentioned with Mary Kay Hungate and John Gross as coaches that lead teams to state championships at Richwoods High School!

Massey- How often do you think about that run? 

Coach Hursey-Often!  We reference it often as we prepare teams for the season and the post season.  We reminisce about it at breakfast with the coaches.   

The main game of the season that people bring up the most is the sectional championship game at Dunlap.  The place was packed, the energy was amazing and the defensive effort of the girls was epic.  They held Morton scoreless in the 3rd quarter and at one point in the 4th quarter Coach Metzger relayed to me that we would have a running clock if it was instated in the playoffs.  The girls played an amazing game and that game will never be forgotten.  Morton’s dynasty was incredible and what they had been doing was not being matched by anyone. Being able to lead Richwoods to that level and experience what Morton’s program had the previous 3 years was amazing and unforgettable.   

John Gross- Richwoods

John Gross has been a legend in Illinois with his match-up zone. He had a successful career for 26 years at Limestone. After a ten year absence, he took over at Richwoods where he won a championship his first season in 2005 and again in 2009. Today he coaches at Princeville. 

Before First Championship, Previous Trips to State- Elite 8 (Limestone- 1979, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1991)

Before First Championship, Previously Farthest Advance in State Series- 2nd (Limestone- 1990)

Years As Head Coach When Won First State Title- 27th

Year Won First Title- 2005 (Richwoods) (also 2009 at Richwoods)

Massey- Did you go into the season thinking you could win state? 

Coach Gross- I definitely thought we could win state both years we did and some other years at Richwoods, Limestone, and even at Princeville. 

Massey- Did you at some point talk to the team about winning state? 

Coach Gross-  Yes that is always the ultimate goal if you have a good team. It doesn’t work out very often though! 

Massey- Was there a play in the championship game that made you say to yourself – we are going to win state? 

Coach Gross- Both tournament wins came pretty easy so there wasn’t any one play that stands out to me. Getting there to the Championship game was never easy though. 

Massey- What are the craziest things you remember from the first hour after you won state?  

Coach Gross- The 2005 season was just unbelievable in so many ways. Undefeated large school (2A), my first year back as a head coach and beating three Chicago area teams at State. Fenwick, Whitney Young, and Bartlett. Then came joy and relief. We finally won the big one and got to hear We are the Champions being played for us. Then all the congrats and the celebration at the restaurant with parents and fans afterwards. In 2009 it was different, 3A championship played in the afternoon just seemed anticlimactic compared to the other. We still beat good teams Marshall and Freeport but we weren’t considered the best team in the state like we were in 05. 

Massey- How has winning state impacted you personally going forward? 

Coach Gross- I think it has helped me keep hungry to keep coaching, along with the 10 years I was out of coaching. I leaned that coaching is very important to me with or without the Championships. 

Massey- How often do you think about that run? 

Coach Gross- I don’t really dwell on them, as long as I am still coaching I have enough to think about with my current team. The 05 team is going into the GPAHOF this year so that will be a chance to see those kids!! I am looking forward to that part of it, but speaking in front of a crowd etc- I’m not too excited about. Getting my 900th win was gratifying, but I’m not sure I can catch you! But I’m going to try!