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 John McDougal
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Position:
Head Men's Basketball Coach |
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Experience:
1976-86 |
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Year Inducted:
1995 |
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Disciplinarian. Educator. Fundamentalist. Only man to place team in both IHSA Class AA and A basketball tourneys and play in state "finals." Voted to IHSA centennial state tournament "100 Legends" list (2006). Wrote Taylor Bell of Chicago Sun-Times (1981): "The coach I would want my son to play for." Ranks on state's all-time career win list (692) and in Illinois "500 Club" (556 prep triumphs at Palestine, Carmi, Aurora West, and Rockford Lutheran high schools). Inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame (1974), University of Evansville Athletics Hall of Fame (1981), and Salem High School Hall of Fame (1985). "Wizard of Annie Glidden Road and Lucinda Avenue." Winningest men's cage coach in Northern Illinois history (136 wins). Led Huskies to MAC co-championship (1980-81) and school's first Division I NCAA appearance by capturing Mid-Am Post-Season Tournament (1981-82). Tutored one NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, two Academic All-Americas, five Honorable Mention All-Americas, two Mid-Am Players of Year, two MAC Frosh of Year, 11 All-MAC performers, five NBA draftees, and five NIU Hall of Famers. Picked MAC and Illinois Division I Coach of Year in first Huskie season for "Nation's Most Improved Team" according to Basketball Times poll by transforming 5-21 quintet (1975-76) into Mid-Am contender and 13-14 club that shared loop lead as late as February 23 (1976-77). All-Stater on Salem cage unit that took third in state (1942-43). Football HB at Evansville (1947-49). World War II U. S. Navy vet. Okmulgee, OK, native.
