Shaw Local

News   •   Sports   •   Obituaries   •   eNewspaper   •   Election   •   The Scene   •   175 Years
Illinois Valley

IBCA honors state’s best as Coaches of the Year, including numerous locals

Woodland head boys basketball coach Connor Kaminke talks to his team while playing Flaganan-Cornell during the Route 17 Classic Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 at Woodland High School.

Woodland head boys basketball coach Connor Kaminke talks to his team while playing Flanagan-Cornell during the 2024 Route 17 Classic. (Scott Anderson)

By J.T. Pedelty

The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association officially published its full list of Coaches of the Year late last week. Coaches chosen will be honored at the IBCA’s annual Coach of the Year Luncheon on Saturday in Normal.

Starting with the high school boys basketball honorees, Marquette Academy’s Todd Hopkins, Indian Creek’s Nolan Govig, Mendota’s Steve Wasmer and Woodland’s Connor Kaminke were all selected as Coaches of the Year for their districts.

Mendota's head coach Steve Wasmer talks with the team during at timeout on Wednesday Dec. 17, 2025, while traveling to take on Sycamore High school.

Mendota head coach Steve Wasmer talks with his team during a timeout against Sycamore in December 2025 at Sycamore High School. (David Toney for Shaw Local News /David Toney)

As for high school girls basketball, Illinois Valley coaches chosen as their district’s Coaches of the Year included Midland’s Xavier Warren and Roanoke-Benson’s Ryan Davis.

Junior high girls basketball IBCA honorees from the greater area included Bureau Valley’s Ryan Rosenthal, Spring Valley JFK’s T.J. Orlandi and Wallace’s Raymond Moore.

Boys basketball coaches from junior high chosen as Coaches of the Year included Morris’ Chad Orlovich and La Salle Lincoln’s Matthew Mezel.

The IBCA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will also be honored Saturday. Included among them are local hall of fame coach Greg Peterson (Fieldcrest/Flanagan-Cornell), former player Stan Broers (Roanoke-Benson), official James Knauf (of Ottawa) and friend of basketball Jeff Owens (Marseilles Elementary).

Boys BasketballLa Salle CountyHigh School SportsPremiumMyWebTimesMendota PrepsMarquette PrepsIllinois Valley Front Headlines
J.T. Pedelty

J.T. Pedelty

J.T. is a graduate of Streator High School, Illinois Valley Community College and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who is some 27 years into an award-winning sports journalism career and serves as a regional sports editor for Shaw Local Media and Friday Night Drive.