FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ITCCCA ANNOUNCES 2017 HALL-OF-FAME CLASS
Seven coaches were voted into ITCCCA’s Coaches Hall-of-Fame at the recent Hall-of-Fame Committee meeting. They will be inducted at the annual ITCCCA Hall-of-Fame Banquet, following the Clinic on January 14, 2017. The selection meeting takes place in October each year. ITCCCA by-laws allow the committee to select up to seven members each year. This year there were over 4Annuitant 30 coaches nominated.
The committee consists of 15 Hall-of-Fame coaches through Illinois. Each region of the State is represented. Each of the candidates was discussed at length with concern focusing on the three C’s – coaching record, contribution to the sports outside of coaching, and character. The committee was faced with a tough task of only selecting seven inductees. Each of the members placed a secret ballot where they were allowed to vote for seven coaches. The votes were cast and counted.
The following coaches have been selected for this year:
Lester Hampton (Normal U-High School) Lester Hampton has served at Normal U-High for 29 years as head boys and girls Cross Country coach and head boys Track & Field coach. A former school record holder in the 800 meters at Illinois State, he has coached his teams to remarkable 10 IHSA State trophies, including 2 State Championships. He has coached athletes to All-State honors 78 times. Four individuals and 1 relay have won State titles and set 2 State records.. Lester’s teams have won 20 Sectionals Championships and 30 Regional titles. “It is quite apparent that Lester cares about every single one of his athletes. He is able to motivate his runners to care about each other and for parents to pour their hearts into cheering for the entire teams.”
Jerry Hewerdine (St. Joseph Ogden High School) Jerry Hewerdine has coached Track & Field at St. Joseph-Ogden for 40 years, primarily as head Girls Track & Field coach. His girls teams have won 2 IHSA State trophies, including a State Championship. These teams have won 16 Sectional and 21 Conference titles. Jerry’s athletes have won 51 individual State medals and 22 relay State medals. Ten times girls have won State Championships. He has coached medalists at the State Meet in every event but the 100 m. high hurdles. Jerry, has, also, served as an assistant for the boy TF team and was head CC coach for 3 years. “He is a tremendous role model and example for his young athletes..As a result his athletes have a great love and respect for him.”
Joe Maier (Peoria Richwoods High School) Joe Maier became the head Girls Track & Field Coach at Peoria Richwoods in the 1975-76 season, the second year of the program’s existence. He served as such until he retired from teaching in 2005, but has remained on the staff as a volunteer assistant. During this time, he coached athletes to 40 IHSA State medals. Twice athletes won State Championships and six other times girls placed in the top 3 at State. His teams won the Mid-State Conference 5 times. Joe, also, served as coach for TAC, Prairie State Games, and USATF summer programs, has served as Head Shot Put and Discus inspector at the Girls State Meet. “He showed a true caring nature towards his team and fostered a team approach at all times”
Mark McCabe (Hinsdale Central High School) Mark McCabe has been coaching Cross Country and/or Track & Field for over 30 years. He has spent the last 22 years at Hinsdale Central. Previously. he coached at Oakland, Teutopolis, Dixon, and Libertyville High Schools. Teams Mark has coached have won 4 IHSA State trophies, including a State Championship in Girls Cross Country. His cross CC teams at Hinsdale Central have won 3 Sectional, 7 Regional, and 8 Conference titles. His athletes have won 34 State medals, including State Championship in Girls 1600 meters run and 3200 meter relay. Mark has served as co-director of many meets and co-organized the CC coaches poll. Mark “has had a amazing career and has meant so much to the athletes he has coached.”
Bonnie Moxley (Mahomet-Seymour & Urbana U-High High Schools) Bonnie Moxley has been a coach of Cross Country and Track & Field for 30 years. She has spent 21 years at Mahomet-Seymour after have been at Urbana U-High. Her teams have earned 6 IHSA State trophies, including a State Championship at Mahomet in T&F. At U-High she coached the girls to 2 thirds in CC and a 2nd and a 3rd in T&F. She coached the boys at U-High to a 3rd place in CC. Her teams have won 14 Sectionals, and athletes have earned All-State honors 41 times, with 4 individual State Titles. She has presented at clinics, and earned several Coach-of-the-year honors. “Coach Moxley unselfishly puts her student athletes in a position to succeed, not only in athletics, but also outside school.”
Bob Pax (Sandwich High School) Bob Pax has served as either head Boys Track & Field, Boys Cross Country, and Girls Cross Country coach for over 25 years. During this time his teams were IHSA State Cross Country runner-ups three times and received third place trophy once. He coached teams to championships at the Interstate 8 Conference 18 times, at Regional 14 times, and at Sectional 4 times. His cross country teams qualified for State on 14 occasions. His athletes earned All-State medals 22 times. “There has been a long and proud tradition of cross country at Sandwich High School because of the amount of time and dedication that Coach Pax has given to the past cross country runners of Sandwich High School.”
Dave Wurster (Prospect High School) Dave Wurster was the head Girls Track & Field coach for 30 years and head Girls Cross Country coach at Prospect for 18 years, until his retirement recently. Dave has coached his athletes to All-State medals on 50 occasions. His teams won the MSL Conference 8 times. They won 10 Sectional Championships and 5 Regional Championships. Six times his teams placed in the top 10 at State. He has hosted many meets and Invites, including Sectional Track and has been a speaker at the ITCCCA Clinic. “Dave has influenced many high school girls. His commitment to bettering each individual, no matter how fast or slow, is unparalleled.” He has served as a strong mentor to several other who have coached.