IBCA E-Newsletter

Virgil Sweet Distinguished Service Award Recipients

Fred Mitchell

District I

Fred Mitchell has had his hand and heart in high school sports and administration for 46 years, working first in Blytheville, Arizona and then moving back to the Valparaiso-Chesterton area. He was Chesterton’s boys’ basketball coach, starting in 1977, and was coach of the year in 1983 in District I. In 1989 he became assistant athletic director at Chesterton and three years later became varsity assistant for the girls basketball team. He retired from teaching in 1998 but remains as assistant athletic director and girls' basketball assistant at Chesterton. Fred, thanks for your contributions to high school basketball.

Chip Jones

District I

Broadcaster Chris Jones remembers the recent past--in the early 1980s--when Dan Palambizio and Delay Brooks were throwing them in regularly for Michigan City Rogers. Friend Tom Wells recalls that Chris 'did an excellent job." "And still does!" "With a great radio voice and true knowledge and insight into the sport he loves and covers." Chris has done play by play for WCOE (The Eagle) for three different sports-- football, basketball and baseball since 1997-98. He also inspired and owned the LaPorte newspaper 'Town Crier" for ten years and was responsible for the sports section including LaPorte County sports updates and a Coaches' Roundtable conversation that was highly popular. He has also broadcast with many other colorful color commentators including current radio personality Mike Ferrin. Congratulations Chip, you have had an outstanding career.

Roger Dickinson

District II - Executive Director of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

Roger was a multi-sport athlete at Frankton High School then earned B.S. and M.A. degrees at Ball State, where he also received his administrative credentials. He coached basketball and baseball at Albany High School for four years and also served as guidance counselor, athletic director and eventually as principal. He was superintendent of the West Central School Corporation in Francesville for 21 years before assuming his current post at the Hall of Fame in 1999. Several honors have come his way during a lifetime of service: the St. Vincent Silver Medal from the Hall of Fame board, induction into the Hall of Fame, the presidency of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, recognition by the Indiana House of Representatives, District 1 Superintendent of the Year, and the Bell Ringers Award from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Roger, thanks for all you do for high school basketball.

Bob Kirkoff

Bob is a graduate of Cathedral High School, St. Edwards University, Austin Texas and a U. S. Army Veteran. For 46 years his devotion to teaching young athletes combined with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game of basketball has enabled him to continue to be an effective coach.

During his 19 years as Varsity Basketball Coach at Roncalli, he led the Rebels to nine City Championships, eight Sectional titles, four Regional Championships and a State runner-up finish. Bob was Marion County Coach of the Year three times and was an Indiana All Star Coach in 1993. His overall record was 324 wins-112 losses (74%).

He retired from Roncalli in 2002. In 2005 he came out of retirement and served as an assistant at Franklin Central and helped lead the Flashes to two sectional championships. This past season he was an Assistant at Chatard High School and helped lead the Trojans to a 3A State runner-up finish.

Bob, Thanks for your dedication to high school basketball through all the years.

Jason Recker

District III - Sports Editor, Jasper Herald

A self-described Jasper guard who couldn't shoot straight, Jason got his recognition instead in the newspaper industry. He graduated from the IU journalism school. As an undergrad, Jason covered IU’s tumultuous run to the NCAA title game in 2002. He joined the Jasper Herald after graduation in 2002. Two years later, he was named its sports editor, continuing the Herald's tradition of thorough sports coverage, including several state championships won by teams in the Herald's circulation area. Jason has won writing awards from the Hoosier State Press Association and the Indiana AP Managing Editors group as well as awards for newspaper design.

Chris James

District III - WQKZ and WITZ Sports Announcer

Vincennes University's school of broadcasting prepared the 1989 Perry Central graduate for a career that brought high school football and basketball coverage to unserved and under served southern Indiana communities. He started at WTCJ in Tell City as a VU student and then transitioned to sports broadcasting in Huntingburg and Santa Claus. He joined WQKZ and WITZ in 1997, serving as lead sports announcer that led to state championship coverage of the Forest Park Rangers' boys' and girls' teams as well as tournament coverage of the Jasper Wildcats and Perry Central Commodores. Already he has twice been named winner of the Indiana Baseball Coaches District O announcer-of-the-year award.