A familiar face and a name synonymous with Silver Streaks sports is the new coach of the Galesburg High School boys basketball program.
Taylor Thiel, a member of the 1998 state runner-up team and part of legendary family that saw his grandfather John, father Zack, and uncle Mark all make their marks on the program, will officially become Galesburg’s new coach on May 12, pending school board approval.
District 205 officials confirmed the hire Wednesday.
Thiel will replace another former Silver Streak, Chad Thompson, who stepped down in March after four seasons as head coach of the Galesburg basketball program. The Streaks were 11-22 this past season and 55-74 during Thompson’s four years at the helm.
A Texas resident since 2006, Taylor currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex where he is a senior market sales agent at Homeward, a private equity real estate company.
“I am extremely humbled and incredibly excited to be the next head coach for the Galesburg Silver Streaks program,” Thiel said in a statement. “I know what it means to wear a Silver Streak uniform, and I am committed to building a strong relationship with our student-athletes, staff, and community.
“I’m looking forward to providing a positive experience for all as we embark on this new journey together.”
Thiel was starter and a major contributor on the state runner-up 1997-98 Silver Streaks, widely regarded as one of the best teams in the storied history of Galesburg basketball. That team had a 30-3 record, falling to Chicago Whitney Young in the Class AA state title game in Peoria.
Thiel played four years of basketball and baseball at GHS and continued his college career first at Iowa State University, before embarking on a Hall of Fame career at Monmouth College.
For the past 12 years, he has coached basketball and baseball in the Dallas-Fort Worth area primarily on the AAU/Select circuit.
Galesburg Athletic Director Nick Young said Thiel brings a strong background in player development, leadership and community engagement, noting “His coaching philosophy emphasizes togetherness, effort, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the court.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Taylor back home to Galesburg High School,” Young said. “Taylor will be an asset to our student athletes and community. His passion, energy, and deep connection to the community make him the perfect fit to lead our program into a new era.”
Young and assistant superintendent of Human Resources and Student Supports Mindi Ritchie headed a search committee that included former player, coach and teacher Steve Cheesman, Lombard principal Rebecca Hutton, former Streaks athlete Lorenzo Pugh, head girls basketball coach Lexi Demott, and teacher and coach Jake Miller.
Thiel will be the 34th coach in Galesburg basketball history, and the fifth GHS alum to lead his high school alma mater, following Mike Owens, Barry Swanson, Dave Peck and Thompson.
