Coaches

Russ Zick

Year Inducted: 2006

Category: Coaches

Schools / Organizations:

Scales Mound High School, Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School, Rochelle High School, Kaneland High School

Biography:

Russ Zick compiled a 603-487 record in 39 years as a head coach at four different schools. He started at age 24 at Scales Mound and went 54-46 in four seasons, leading the school to its first IHSA regional title in 1984 with a 22-7 record. He went to Paxton-Buckley-Loda for 14 years and registered a 204-166 record with two IHSA Class A Regional titles and a fourth-place state finish in 1996 with a 27-7 record. His 1996-97 team finished 26-1 and was ranked fourth in the final regular-season Class A Associated Press state poll. 

In 13 years at Rochelle, Zick posted a 227-151 record with 6 regional titles. At the time of his induction he held the school record for all-time winning percentage at 69 percent and the school record for consecutive home wins at 35. He went 112-99 with a regional title in 7 years at Ashton-Franklin Center and finished his career with one season at Kaneland.

Russ Zick died on January 13, 2026 at the age of 72.