IBCA Honors Six Local Coaches

Student-athletes in Washington County are well-coached, according to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

Six coaches from Okawville and Nashville schools were named to the IBCA Coach of the Year list, including all four high school coaches.

Okawville Lady Rockets’ coach Michelle Hasheider-Burianek and Nashville Hornettes’ coach Doug Althoff were among the high school coaches named to the list.

Hasheider-Burianek led the Lady Rockets to a sectional championship, while Althoff’s Hornettes fell in the sectional championship game to Carterville, which went on to take third place at the IHSA State Finals.

Also earning spots on the list  are boys’ coaches Jon Kraus and Wayne Harre.

Kraus won a regional championship before losing to Goreville in the sectional round. Goreville had punched a ticket to the IHSA State Final before the state tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic shutdown.

Harre’s Hornets won a regional championship and advanced to the sectional championship game, where they were knocked off by Murphysboro.

Two local junior high coaches were also named to the list, as both Okawville Junior High’s Aaron Tebbe and Immanuel Lutheran/Trinity St. John’s Joe Kirby were honored.

The Junior Lady Rockets and Lady Titans met in the SIJHSAA 1A State Title game, which OJHS won.