HOF Career Coaches

 

James Waugh

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: Rend Lake College
Mt. Vernon Community College
Marshall (IL) High School
Fisher High School

Biography: James Waugh spent 37 years coaching basketball in Illinois after completing a three-sport career at Indiana State University. Waugh spent the first seven years as a boys’ high school basketball coach with stops at Fisher and Marshall High Schools. Waugh began coaching at the college level as men’s coach at Mount Vernon Community College in the 1966-67 season and moved onto Rend Lake College where he served as men’s coach for 14 seasons. Waugh began coaching the women’s program at Rend Lake in the 1981-1982 season and averaged 18 wins a season there in that capacity. As Rend Lake women’s coach, Waugh’s teams posted a 231-171 record before the 1994-95 season. Overall, Waugh’s record was 482-471. Beginning in 1989, Waugh served for many years as the women’s director for Region XXIV of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which covers all of downstate Illinois. Fellow workers characterize him as a tremendous educator and coach and an even better person. James Waugh died on September 4, 2018 at the age of 81.

Carol Plodzien

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: (Palatine) Fremd High School
IBCA

Biography: At the time of her induction, Carol Plodzien had been the only girls’ head basketball coach William Fremd High School in Palatine had known. Plodzien compiled a 340-196 record through 22 seasons including a 50-consecutive win streak (1972-77). Fremd won seven conference, nine regional, two sectional and two super-sectional championships. The 1977 team under Plodzien finished third in the first ever girls’ IHSA state tourney. Fremd also was in the 1990 Elite Eight. Carol has been named IBCA District VI coach of the year twice. She has twice been named the Coach of the Year by the Mid-Suburban League North. Plodzien received Women’s Basketball Coaches Association 200 (1987) and 300 (1993) Victory Club awards. She serves on the IBCA all-state selection committee and in 1993 coached the Class AA North team in the IBCA All-Star game. Plodzien, who began coaching girls’ basketball in 1972, has been a motivating force in the sport. Her influence helped add television coverage to the girl’s state tournament. She fought until the Elite Eight format came back to the state tournament. Much in demand as a speaker at clinics and camps, Plodzien has authored several magazine and journal articles and with June E.Meyer has authored a book Excelling in Sports Through Thinking Straight. Plodzien has been nominated by the IBCA for National Coach of the Year in Girls’ Basketball in 1995. She received the IBCA Herrins’ Award in 2022 for her lifetime of efforts to promote opportunites for girls and women through the game of basketball.

Don Dixon

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: (Carmi) White County High School
Carmi Middle School

Biography: Don Dixon’s career took several turns before his induction. When he retired as Carmi White County’s girls’ basketball coach in 2000-01 his overall record was 552-164 in 33 years of coaching. Dixon spent six years at two small southeastern Illinois grade schools, took two years off, then coached 15 years at Carmi Middle School. After more time off, he took over a varsity girls’ program at Carmi White County that had only one winning season prior to his arrival as its leader. His junior high boys’ record was 287-139 and his junior high girls’ mark was 14-1. Dixon’s mark at Carmi White County was 251-45 with 20 wins in nine of his 11 seasons. As a junior high boys’ coach, Dixon won two North Egypt Conference championships and made the field of two IESA state tournaments and the IJHSA state tournament. At Carmi White County, his girls won eight Harrisburg titles, seven Eldorado crowns, seven North Egypt titles and seven IHSA Regionals. Dixon’s Bulldogs made one Sweet 16 appearance and six times he was selected as NEC Coach of the Year.

Steve Dory

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: Washington Community High School

Biography: Steve Doty served Washington High School for 29 years with 23 as varsity head coach. His varsity record was 352-248 and his six-year term as sophomore coach was 89-26, including an undefeated team in 1972. Doty and Washington claimed six regional championships, six conference titles, 10 Washington Tip-Off Tournament crowns and his 1979 team won the prestigious Pekin Holiday Tournament. Five times the Panthers won 20 games during his tenure. He coached the Class AA South team in the IBCA All-Star Classic. Doty’s teams were noted for their overall disciplined play, great defensive intensity and outstanding shooting skills. His teams were always well-prepared and competitive, even when the talent level was inferior to the opponents. Doty is a member of the Bradley University Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Washington Hall of Fame in 2019.

Mike Deines

Year Inducted: 2002

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: (Park Ridge) Maine South High School
IHSA

Biography: Mike Deines served as Maine South High School’s girls’ varsity basketball coach from 1978-2005 and compiled a record of 475 wins and 288 losses. The girls’ basketball pioneer enjoyed 14 seasons where the Hawks notched 20 victories. Nine times Deines and the Hawks ruled regional tournaments and in 1986 they won the sectional title before losing to Maine West 39-33 in the supersectional. Deines also has six Central Suburban League titles to his credit. He earned Illinois Coaches Association girls Coach of the Year honors in 1996 and National High School Athletic Coaches Association Region 4 girls’ basketball Coach of the Year in 1986. Deines served the IBCA on the selection committee for 17 years and was an assistant coach in the IBCA All-Star Game in 1986. In 1995, he was head coach of the Class AA North in the IBCA All-Star Game. Deines served the IHSA as a volunteer official for March Madness starting in 1994 and the IBCA as an officer for five years. He also was a softball coach and was inducted into the Maine South Hall of Fame Class of 2001-02.