Coaches

Jerry Leggett

Year Inducted: 1983

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: Quincy High School
Rock Island High School
Moline High School
Hinsdale South High School

Biography: Jerry Leggett and his blue towel became a trademark of Quincy High School basketball in his seven years at the school. His Blue Devils won seven straight Western Big Six Conference titles and reeled off a 64-game win streak from November 11, 1980 to March 19, 1982. In the span, the Blue Devils won two Quincy Thanksgiving Tourneys, two Pontiac Holiday Tournaments, two regionals, two sectionals, two super-sectionals, the 1981 state title and finished third in the 1982 state finals. Overall, the Leggett coached Quincy teams won an unprecedented five straight holiday tournaments and four straight regionals. Leggett was the first coach to take two undefeated teams into the state title game in three years. Leggett produced 13 all-state players at four different high schools, has been Illinois Basketball Coaches Associations District Head Coach of the Year a record 8 times, and was State Coach of the Year in 1981 when Quincy was named the National Champion. Leggett served one year as an assistant at Riverside-Brookfield, five at Glenbard East, and five at Hinsdale South where he initiated the basketball program. Leggett rescued a floundering program at Rich Central, and in four years there won 78 games, three conference titles, three holiday tourney titles, one regional, one sectional and made one state tourney appearance. Moving to Rock Island, Leggett took a school which had won three games in two years to a 34 – 15 record in the next two years, winning two conference titles and a regional championship. Leggett has been active in the IBCA serving as director and officer. After leaving Quincy, Jerry returned to his alma mater, Moline HS, where he completed his outstanding career.  Jerry passed away on Dec. 5, 1998.