A roundtable of former coaches is one of the items planned for the 2013 IBCA Spring Clinic. This year’s panel features a trio of Hall of Fame coaches – Gene Miiller, Bill Springer and Stan Benge – who will offer their expertise on building programs that stand the test of time.
Here is more info on each of the panelists.
Gene Miiller
Gene Miiller has coached Indiana high school boys basketball at the varsity level for 37 years, compiling a career record of 614-275 in stops at Kankakee Valley, Vincennes Lincoln, Lafayette Jeff and Washington.
Miiller is the sixth among active coaches in career wins and 12th in wins all-time. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Over the years, Miiller’s teams have won 21 conference championships, 28 sectionals, eight regionals, four semistates and state championships with Washington in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
He has coached multiple Indiana All-Stars and two Mr. Basketball winners in brothers Tyler and Cody Zeller.
Miiller, chosen an IBCA district Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1990, cites the legendary John Wooden as his coaching role model.
Over the years, Miiller – a 1975 graduate of South Newton High School and a 1975 graduate of Wabash College – has conducted basketball camps and clinics in Australia and Africa.
Miiller and his late wife, Debbie, have three adult daughters and several grandchildren.
Bill Springer
Bill Springer won 539 games in a 40-year coaching that included stops at Linden, Seeger, Brazil, Indianapolis Shortridge, Jennings County, Bloomington South and Southport.
Springer’s win total puts him 20th on the state’s all-time list for boys’ basketball coaches.
His teams won eight sectionals at Southport, more than any other coach with the Cardinals, and his 1990 squad advanced to the State Finals.
He coached in the first Hall of Fame Classic in 1977 and also in the 1991 Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle.
Springer was an IBCA district Coach of the Year in 1978, and he was selected to the Southport Wall of Fame in 2012. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
A 1953 graduate of Indianapolis Washington High School and a 1957 graduate of Hanover College, Springer was a three-year starter and an All-City player in high school and a three-year letterman in college.
Springer was recognized as a Coach of the Year on eight occasions.
Stan Benge
Stan Benge compiled a 519-126 record over 26 seasons as girls basketball coach at Ben Davis.
During his tenure, Benge’s teams won 22 sectionals, 11 regionals, five semistates and four Class 4A state championships in 2000, 2001, 2009 and 2010. His 2009 squad was recognized as the No. 1 team in the nation and he is one of only five Indiana coaches with more than 500 girls’ basketball victories.
He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Benge’s teams at Ben Davis won 81 consecutive games from 2008-11, setting the longest streak in Indiana high school basketball history (boys or girls). The 2009 and 2010 teams became the first to capture back-to-back undefeated state championships.
Over the years, Benge coached 11 Indiana All-Stars and four players who were selected at All-Americans.
He was the Indiana All-Star head coach in 2009 and an All-Star assistant in 1995. In 2009, he was chosen USA Today national Coach of the Year and Naismith national Coach of the Year. In 2010, he was selected MaxPreps national Coach of the Year.
He was selected an IBCA district Coach of the Year in 1990, 2000 and 2009.
After his time at Ben Davis, Benge moved to the college game as a women’s basketball assistant at IUPUI. In two seasons, he has helped the Jaguars to a 33-31 record, including a 20-12 mark in 2012-13.
Benge is a 1972 graduate of Ben Davis and a 1976 graduate of Marian University, scoring more than 1,000 points as a player.
Benge and his wife, Shirley, live on the westside of Indianapolis.
