Friends of Basketball

Al Coers

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:  New Holland High School, Elkhart High School, Robinson High School, Centralia High School, Salem High School

Biography: 

For 42 years prior to his Hall of Fame induction, Al Coers kept score at basketball games in New Holland, Elkhart, Robinson, Salem and Centralia. He started in 1961 during his senior year at New Holland-Middletown High School.

Coers began his teaching career at Elkhart in 1966 and kept score for all home and away boys games. He also coached and kept score at junior high games in Elkhart. From there he moved to Robinson and taught at Lincoln Trail Community College. He kept score for the men’s and women’s teams and scored at the National Junior College Tournament one season. He was also the official scorekeeper for men’s and women’s games at Kaskaskia College.

In addition to those duties, Coers kept score for boys varsity and junior varsity games at Salem High School and during the Centralia Holiday Tournament. Twice he served as one of the official scorers at the girls state tournament in Normal. He estimated he kept score at more than 1,800 games during five decades of service prior to his induction.

Coers was inducted into the Kaskaskia College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. He was integral in the creation of the Kaskaskia College Sports Association and served as chairman for its first three years.