Hello everyone. I am writing this article after watching some exciting games of the Girls State Finals. My congratulations go out to all eight teams who reached Conseco. I want to give a special shout out to Plymouth coach Dave Cox, whose team won a thrilling one-point game in the 3A contest. Dave and I are both Rochester High School grads. He becomes the second Zebra grad to coach a state championship team. Jerry Oliver coached Indianapolis Washington to the Boys' state title in 1965.
In September I was approached by The Indianapolis Star Marketing Department to speak with them about becoming the Director of the Indiana All-Stars in our long-standing series against Kentucky. I agreed to accept the position if they would allow me to coach during 2007-2008 season and then I would resign from coaching.
But after learning quickly what all Pat Aikman previously had to deal with and do, and learning I am not ready to end my career in education and as a coach, I have decided I will not remain in the director’s position after June. Announcing this now should allow The Star ample time to consider who the new director will be.
However, this year I’m a part of a major change in the annual Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series. The Indiana Girls and Boys All-Stars will play our Kentucky counterparts on June 13th and June 15th. Yes, it is now a one-weekend series. Much discussion went into the decision, and with All-Stars asked to start their college obligations earlier and earlier each year by their coaches and schools, the one-week format will be used beginning this year. We will play Kentucky at Conseco Fieldhouse Friday evening, June 13, and play the traditional rematch with Kentucky on Sunday, June 15. That game will be at Louisville Gardens.
Two exhibition games against junior all-stars selected by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association will be played. Sites of the games are still being discussed. Those games are tentatively scheduled for Monday June 9th and Wednesday June 11th.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to let the IBCA coaches know the dates for Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star announcements. The Indianapolis Star announced the day of the girls state finals the Girls' All-Star coaches. On March 20th the newspaper will announce Miss Basketball. Then on March 22nd the Boys' All-Star coaches will be announced. On the next day, March 23rd, the Girls' All-Star Team will be released by The Star. Finally, in April, Mr. Basketball will be announced on the 10th. The Boys All-Star Team will be announced on April 20th.
