Basketball Hall of Fame

Before Norm Reiser arrived as head coach in 1971, Morton High School had never won a district or regional championship in boys basketball. That changed in Norm’s third season, and the Potters would win seven more regionals before he retired in 1995.

Under Norm, Morton built a statewide reputation for pressure, trapping defense and excellent outside shooting, the latter highlighted in 1985 when the top five percentage shooters in the Mid-Illini Conference were all Potters. In 24 seasons at Morton, Norm’s teams compiled a 434-195 record, including a 28-0 start to the 1978-79 season, which ended with a sectional title game loss to Peoria High. They won 19 conference championships.

When he retired, Norm ranked fourth for most victories in boys basketball at a single Peoria area school, trailing only Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Famers Dick Van Scyoc, Wayne Hammerton and Chuck Buescher. Norm previously coached at Coal City, Chrisman and St. Joseph-Ogden, and finished his career with a 587-246 record, a .705 winning percentage that ranked 16th in Illinois history among coaches with at least 300 career wins.