Friends of Basketball

Richard Maher

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations: Lena-Winslow High School

(Palatine) Winston JuniorHigh School

Biography:   Richard Maher began his association with basketball in 1945 when he witnessed his first game. The next morning he was at Brands Park in Chicago shooting baskets and claimed he went 0-for-999. He played at Lane Tech and ran squadron teams after joining the Air Force for his first experience in coaching.

Maher went on to a long coaching career that began at Winston Park Junior High in Palatine in 1959. He compiled a 62-60 record in 10 seasons. He served as high school boys’ coach at Lena-Winslow for six seasons and his teams posted a 101-50 record. He was the girls’ coach for two years before retiring in 1987. However, he returned to coach the Lena-Winslow junior high boys’ team for three years and compiled a 46-19 record. His overall coaching record at all levels was 259-163 for a 61 percent winning clip.

Richard Maher died on April 22, 2018 at the age of 85.