The basketball court at Galesburg High School will soon include the name of the winningest coach in Silver Streaks sports history.
District 205 has announced it will name the competition court in John Thiel Gymnasium after legendary Streaks girls basketball coach Evan Massey. The school board will vote to approve the “Evan Massey Court at John Thiel Gymnasium” designation at Monday’s school board meeting.
Retired teacher and longtime Galesburg coach Jay Barshinger sent a letter of nomination to District 205 requesting to name the court after Massey.
Massey, the third-winningest coach in Illinois girls basketball history, submitted his letter of retirement Feb. 26 after a 46-year run as the Streaks girls basketball coach.
A 7-member ad hoc naming committee met March 28 to consider a request to name the competition court at Thiel Gymnasium after Evan Massey. The committee members — Mike Panther, Stacy Sharp, Shanell Jackson Lightfoot, Jake Taylor, Steve Cheesman, Rodney Bunch and GHS athletic director Eric Matthews — unanimously agreed to forward this nomination to the Galesburg District 205 Board of Education for approval.
“Evan is obviously a hall of fame coach on the court, and all the wins and championships are great. But the things he does off the court are just as spectacular, or even better.” — former Galesburg coach Jay Barshinger
“Evan is obviously a hall of fame coach on the court, and all the wins and championships are great,” said Barshinger, who coached for 36 years in District 205, including many years in the girls basketball program. “But the things he does off the court are just as spectacular, or even better.
“He ran the program with class and dignity. With the things he’s done for the girls and the community, it’s a no brainer to me.”
During his storied 46-year run, Massey guided the Silver Streaks to a record of 1,018-397— a winning percentage of 71.9%. In December, Massey joined an exclusive four-digit win club that has been achieved by just three other girls coaches in Illinois, and only four for boys and girls basketball combined. The only other Illinois girls basketball coaches to secure 1,000 career victories are both retired — Dorothy Gaters of Chicago Marshall with 1,153 wins and David Power primarily of Fenwick with 1,020 wins.
Massey’s teams advanced to eight Elite 8 state tournament appearances—highlighted by a second (1999), a third (1996) and two fourth-place trophies (2000 and 2001). He also guided the Streaks to 13 Western Big 6 Conference championships, more than any other league school.
“Galesburg has been very good to me, and to even be considered for such an honor is very humbling,” Massey said.
The late John Thiel was the head boys basketball coach at Galesburg from 1955-73, a tenure that perennially saw the Streaks as one of Illinois’ elite teams. With a career record of 396-90, Thiel guided nine Silver Streak teams to the Sweet 16, with a third place finish in 1959 and second place finishes in 1966 and 1968. His teams won 15 regionals and 13 conference championships.
Like Massey, Thiel is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
District 205 Superintendent of Schools John Asplund said the painted signature of John Thiel will remain on the court, along with a signature of Evan Massey.
“It was two tremendous coaches coaching in two tremendous eras of Galesburg basketball,” said Thiel’s oldest son Zack Thiel, an all-state basketball player and Galesburg Athletic Hall of Fame member along with his father and brother Mark Thiel.
“There’s a time and place for both of them.”
Mark Thiel added, “It’s a well-deserved honor for Coach Massey and his legacy.”
