Evan Massey is no longer the girls basketball coach at Galesburg.
Let that sink in.
In 1978, Jimmy Carter was president, the television show Dallas was about to launch, the Bee Gees were “Stayin’ Alive” on the pop music charts, and gas was 63 cents a gallon.
Evan Massey was Mr. Massey to me. He was my psychology teacher at Galesburg High School. And also the newly-named Silver Streaks girls basketball coach.
Evan wasn’t a big deal then—neither was girls basketball. And it wasn’t for the first few years of his tenure with the Streaks.
He couldn’t care less about personal attention, but he sure wanted it for his girls who worked just as hard as the boys basketball players.
And that’s where Evan and I really connected.
As a fresh young sports writer for The Register-Mail (yes, they actually had reporters back then) in the mid 1980s, Evan and I had numerous conversations about how he could get his girls basketball team some ink in the newspaper.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit now, boys sports took centerstage back then. And I told Evan, “if we don’t come to you, maybe you should come to us.”
The lightbulb went off in his head.
Evan Massey the coach turned into Evan Massey the publicist/sports information director/promoter. In the days before email, he would type up information promoting the Streaks’ next games, and would drop them off in the mail slot at the front door of The Register-Mail. Or he would pick up the phone (no such thing as text messages back then), encouraging me to get his team some attention.
You know what? It worked. The Streaks girls basketball team started to get more of its games covered, make the front page and grab some headlines. Of course it also kind of coincided with the rise in success of Galesburg girls basketball in the late 1980s, too.
But the point is, Evan had a vision, knew what he wanted, and would not stop until he accomplished his goal of making girls basketball relative in Galesburg. That motor still runs and will no doubt be hard to shut off, even though he’s no longer a coach.
As WGIL was first to report, Massey submitted his letter of retirement Monday, ending a legendary 46-year run as Galesburg’s girls basketball coach. He guided the Silver Streaks to a record of 1,018-397, eight Elite 8 state tournament appearances, 13 Western Big Conference 6 championships and so much more.
— Evan Massey (@MasseyBball) February 27, 2024
“I can’t imagine feeling any better than what he must feel about his accomplishments,” said Harley Knosher, Massey’s former coach at Knox College. “Just think of the number of young women who have had a positive experience because of him.
“And think what he has provided for the Galesburg school system and our entire community, in terms of something to really be proud of.”
‘To do what he did over 50 years is miraculous’
Knosher believed Massey had a future in coaching back in the early 1970s, but admits there was no way to predict the Savanna, Illinois, native would become one of the greatest and most successful coaches in Illinois basketball history.
“What I saw right away was a guy who had a really deep interest in the game,” Knosher said. “You know his dad was a coach, and Evan came to Knox with a real interest and good understanding of basketball.
“I could see back then, and as we’ve all grown to know, he’s a perfect gentleman and kind individual who would have to be good for young people to be around.
“But I don’t think any of us could have imagined him going on to win a 1,000 games. I did think he would have a very good career, but to do what he did over 50 years is miraculous.”
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, Massey earlier this season became just the 16th girls basketball coach nationally with 1,000 career wins.
The ultimate role model for coaches
Coaches young and old — one who even started and finished his coaching journey during Massey’s 50-year career — said the former Streaks coach is the ultimate role model.
A fellow Knox College graduate, Thom Sigel received his start as a sophomore boys basketball coach at GHS before going on a hall of fame career of his own that saw him win IHSA boys state championships as a head coach at Rock Falls and Rock Island.
“Without listing names, there were so many people that helped me coming out of college, both in the coaching ranks and and in education,” said Sigel, now retired from coaching and education. “But in Evan’s case, just to see his dedication and his attention to detail, and his offseason program impressed me.
“I would watch how Barry (Swanson) would do it, and I would watch how Evan handled his program. Actually, that continued throughout my career.”
Congrats to a legend! One of the coaches who helped as a mentor for me when I started at Galesburg. His work ethic & attention to detail set a great example. I enjoyed the many coaching calls we had over 30+ years. 👏 https://t.co/97kmlk7iu3 pic.twitter.com/1p0AiPuGjr
— Thom Sigel (@ThomSigel) February 26, 2024
Sigel, like many coaches, also was a constant resource for Massey to bounce ideas off of — even as recently as this past season.
“He knew this was his last season, but he sure didn’t coast on the way out, that’s for sure,” Sigel said. “We would talk frequently.”
Always thinking basketball
Sigel said there are numerous stories about how Massey was always thinking about basketball, but he recalled a time when both of their teams were playing at the State Farm Holiday Classic in Normal.
“He woke me up with a text in the middle of the night,” Sigel said with a laugh. “He’s asking me about sideline out-of-bound situations.
“You’re going to face that maybe one or two times in a game, and here he’s worrying about that for a Christmas tournament game.”
Streaks assistant coach Lexi (Daniels) Demott had a similar story.
“One night, I forgot to silence my phone, and I was getting notifications at 3 in the morning from Coach Massey on break downs of games,” she said. “I thought, ‘What in the world is he doing up?’
“But it just showed his constant dedication and his love for wanting to continue to learn and try different things. You don’t find many people who are so unselfish in what he does.”
Former Streaks boys coach Mike Reynolds said he connected with Massey from Day 1 at Galesburg and has continued to be not only a coaching resource, but a close friend.
“He was already a legendary coach in high school basketball by the time I got to Galesburg,” said Reynolds, now the head boys basketball coach at DeKalb. “So I just wanted to soak up as much information as I possibly could. And unlike some guys, he was willing to share it.
“I’ve learned a ton of basketball from him—how to handle things both on and off the court. He’s an unbelievable resource for me, even to this day.”
Reynolds said he never looked at Massey as a girls basketball coach. “I looked at Evan as a high level basketball coach. One of the first questions I got when I arrived in Galesburg was how was I going to compete with the girls program.
“Well, I said first of all we’re not going to play each other. But I said we’re all on the same team, and that we’re all Silver Streaks and we all want to win.”
Streaks girls basketball all about the culture
With his work ethic a given, Sigel and Reynolds said Massey’s ability to develop and maintain a culture until the day he retired is what made him a legend and role model for all coaches.
“We’re in a relationship-building business as coaches, and I think he builds relationships almost better than anyone I’ve ever seen,” Reynolds said. “He takes the time and effort to get to know people.”
Sigel added, “Culture gets thrown around a lot, but he worked so hard to start that by developing the lower levels. When I started at Galesburg, he had his program rolling from the grade schools on up. There was a consistency, and kids knew what was expected—both on and off the court.”
If anyone should know about Massey’s culture-building ability, it’s Demott. A former Streaks girls basketball standout and 2016 GHS grad, Demott joined Massey’s staff in 2020.
“He does such a great job of incorporating real-life basketball skills into the season,” Demott said. “I’ve never met a coach who incorporates so many other things into the game of basketball. Whether it was an historical fact or we were traveling to some gym or some landmark we would see, he was always able to connect those things to basketball.
She added, “The girls were able to see that he’s just not their basketball coach, he’s their life coach. That’s his greatest skill, and that’s why so many of his former players have gone on to be successful and still come back to talk to him. They remember everything about being a part of his program, not just the basketball moments.”
‘He always made it about the girls’
Demott was one of the few people who knew before the season that 2023-24 would be the last for Massey.
“It didn’t feel any different, because he did such a great job of making this season feel just like any other season,” she said. “It was never about his last this, or last time doing that.
“Like always, he wanted the season to be about the girls, and the skills they were developing and the memories they were making.”
Massey notified the Streaks players of his decision to retire in a team meeting Monday afternoon.
“I knew it was coming, but it’s been emotional,” Demott said. “And there are a lot of different emotions. He’s done so much for me. I played for him, then he took me under his wing as I started my coaching career.
“I think some of the girls knew something was up because we had already had our end of the season meeting and our banquet. But once he started talking, it became more real to them. After he walked out and the girls were alone, there were some tears shed.”
“He is basketball. He’s a guy who lives and breathes it and you assume he’s going to do it forever.” — former Streaks boys basketball coach Mike Reynolds
Monday was an emotional day for Reynolds, too.
“I’ve known for a few months, but when the day finally comes, it’s still shocking, especially for as much as he’s meant for my career,” Reynolds said.
“He is basketball. He’s a guy who lives and breathes it and you assume he’s going to do it forever.”
Massey said a perk of retirement will being able to watch more of his son Allen serve as the director of scouting and analytics for University of Tulsa men’s basketball.
Allen was literally born into Silver Streaks girls basketball, coming into the world on Feb. 20, 1997 — a night Galesburg defeated LaSalle-Peru 110-30 in a regional game in Thiel Gym.
“My entire life, my dad has been the girls basketball coach at Galesburg—so, that’s all I know,” Allen said. “It’s definitely going to feel different without him being a coach. It’s disappointing that it has to come to an end, but you have to be happy that he’s had such a full career.
“All the wins and all the years — it still kind of blows my mind to this day.”
‘I think he knew the time was right’
Evan said he will stay involved in basketball in some form, but his former coach, colleagues and son wonder just how much he will miss the game.
“I’m not sure what he’s going to do,” cracked Reynolds. “There are not many people in the world who’s into basketball as much as Evan.
“The only other person I can think of who’s like Evan is Bob Anderson from Williamsfield. They’re two peas in a pod in terms of how they approach and think and try to get better every single day. You don’t find that anymore. They’re from a day and time when you could outwork your opponent, and they still believe in that.”
The latest words on my blog are about @MasseyBball… Thanks for everything Coach… https://t.co/UOMCTbUD8y
— Matthew L. Wheaton (@matthewlwheaton) February 27, 2024
Sigel said he believes Evan knew the time was right to retire.
“In talking to him, I think he knew it was time,” Sigel said. “But I can tell you, it’s a strange transition, and it’s going to be tougher for Evan, considering how much he put into it and for how long he did it.
“Next November will feel strange but most coaches who retire will say, you found out there are other things out there. I’m sure he will miss parts of it, but he’ll enjoy getting away, watching Allen’s teams other things he will experience in his free time.”
How about Evan Massey Court?
Needless to say, Allen Massey is proud of the legacy his dad has built over nearly a half a century in coaching.
“He never wanted to make anything about him,” Allen said. “He always made it about the players. And that was harder as he got older, because it seemed like there was milestone every year and people would want to give him the recognition.
“But when you say Galesburg basketball, his name has to be at the top of the list, for everything he has done for the community. I don’t want to discount anything any other great coach or player has done, but I think he represents Galesburg basketball.”
Galesburg’s gym is appropriately named in honor of legendary boys basketball coach John Thiel. I know I’m not the only person who will be lobbying for Evan Massey Court in John Thiel Gym.
Evan, thank you for the memories. Thank you for doing things the right way. The term legend gets thrown around too freely these days, but if there ever was a person who can carry that mantle, it’s you.
