Coaches

Gene Gourley

Year Inducted: 1991

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations:
Danville High School
Nashville High School/Paris High School

Biography: One season stands out for Danville basketball coach, Gene Gourley, who was in his 21st year as head coach at the time of his induction. It was 1977-78 and Gourley’s first season at Danville High School. The Vikings were 9-14 heading into the regional which they won and then defeated one of the state’s top teams, Lincoln High School, in the super-sectional at Normal. Gourley’s Danville team won five straight IHSA Regionals with the first making the Elite Eight. All told, his teams have claimed 12 regionals and 12 holiday tourney titles. Eight times Gourley teams won the Schlarman Topper Classic and twice won consolation titles at Pontiac. Gourley was head basketball coach for eight years at Paris and Nashville High Schools before moving to Danville. He averaged 18 wins/season. He remains one of the youngest coaches to ever take a team to the Sweet Sixteen, which he did with Nashville at age 24 in 1970-71. Last summer(1990) Gourley served as coach of the Class AA South team in the IBCA All-Star game and defeated a highly talented North squad in the first overtime game in the series. Gourley’s overall varsity record stood at 353-198.