Coaches

Bill Chesbrough

Year Inducted: 1986

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations: Elgin High School

Biography: Mention Elgin High School and the name of Bill Chesbrough, their long-time basketball coach immediately comes to mind. He has coached 36 seasons at Elgin after six in New York State schools. Before coaching, Bill served in the US Navy at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station beginning in 1942. He played briefly in the Pirates farms system after lettering in three sports at Syracuse University.  In 42 seasons, Chesbrough teams won 697 games while losing just 361. Chesbrough has won 12 conference championships. He is the only coach to have won four consecutive titles in the old Big 8 Conference. Chesbrough could fill a room with 24 IHSA Regional championship plaques, 12 IHSA Sectional trophies, 14 Christmas Tournament crowns, and a second-place state tournament trophy from 1955. That year, Elgin lost a 61-59 decision to Rockford West. Chesbrough’s teams set the school record of 27 consecutive victories and three times has been names Fox Valley Coach of the Year. More than 110 of Chesbrough’s players have received college scholarships.  “Coach Ches” died on October 18, 2010.