Coaches

Arlyn Lober

Year Inducted: 1977

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: (Springfield) Lanphier High School
Litchfield HS

US Army

Biography:

Arlyn graduated from Cissna Park High School where he was a star athlete and valedictorian.  Before an outstanding educational career, Arlyn Lober was an American hero.  As a member of the US Army during WWII, he helped take out 3 tanks during the Battle of the Bulge.  As a part of General Patton’s tank command as a
gunner, they traveled 100 miles in 48 hours to relieve Bastogne.  Many historians consider this march as one of America’s greatest military moments.  Arlyn was an integral part of these battles.

Coach Lober took his first teaching position in Litchfield in 1949.   In 3
seasons, Lober led the Purple Panthers to a 51-22 mark before moving to Springfield in 1952 where he would begin teaching math and coaching at Lanphier High School. He taught at Lanphier High School for 33 years and was the Lanphier High boys’ basketball coach for 22 years guiding the Lions to a 372-198 record along with 9 City Tournament championships, 9 IHSA Regional titles, 5 IHSA Sectionals, a state tournament 3rd place finish in 1963 and a 4th place in 1971.  He finished his varsity basketball career with a record of 423-220.  He was inducted into The Springfield Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.  Arlyn retired from coaching in 1973 and then became the athletic director and retired from Lanphier in 1986.  In 1995, District 186 renamed the Lanphier gym after both Coach Lober and his former assistant coach and successor, Bob Nika, and it became known as the Lober-Nika Gymnasium.