Basketball Hall of Fame

Tom is not one of the modern coaches who coach only one sport. After graduating from Knox College he started his career in coaching, and 38 years later, he had 611 career wins. He coached at Greenview, Bushnell-Prairie City, Jerseyville and the last 26 years at Farmington High School, where he had 520 wins.

Tom took seven Farmington boys basketball teams to the Super Sectionals, winning five of them. The 1998 team went undefeated in regular season play and finished third at state with a 33-1 record. The 2007 team brought home a fourth place trophy to cap a 32-3 season.

Tom also was an outstanding girl’s softball coach, compiling a record of 225-50 in 10 seasons. He saw his team win the IHSA state title in 1989 and then again in 1991, while placing fourth in 1990.

Over the years, Tom has worked with the IHSA organizing and conducting coaching clinics. In 2001, Tom was inducted in the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame. Tom was the Region High School Boys Basketball Coach of the Year in 2009 and also a finalist for Coach of the Year with the National High School Coaches Association. Tom became President of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association in 2009.