Evan Massey’s signature will soon be attached to the floor inside John Thiel Gymnasium, but the recently retired Galesburg girls basketball coach says the honor should be shared with the hundreds of players who made up his 46 teams.
Massey on Thursday published a heartfelt thank you letter to his players and the community via his blog Massey Basketball. Earlier this week, the District 205 Board of Education unanimously approved a request to name the competition court in John Thiel Gymnasium after the legendary hall of fame coach.
The floor is now known as “Evan Massey Court at John Thiel Gymnasium.”
Massey, the third-winningest coach in Illinois girls basketball history, submitted his letter of retirement Feb. 26 after a 46-year run as the Streaks girls basketball coach.
“To have the basketball court named in my honor was a very emotional for me,” Massey said. “I have so much respect for the tradition of Galesburg basketball going clear back over a century, so to have this recognition is pretty humbling.”
During his storied 46-year run, Massey guided the Silver Streaks to a record of 1,018-397— a winning percentage of 71.9%. In December, Massey joined an exclusive four-digit win club that has been achieved by just three other girls coaches in Illinois, and only four for boys and girls basketball combined.
Massey’s teams advanced to eight Elite 8 state tournament appearances—highlighted by a second (1999), a third (1996) and two fourth-place trophies (2000 and 2001). He also guided the Streaks to 13 Western Big 6 Conference championships, more than any other league school.
(Read Massey’s full thank you letter on his blog Massey Basketball)
Massey said he felt compelled to thank those who helped him earn the honor.
“I wrote the letter in my blog because I thought it was important for me to address two groups of people,” he said. “I wanted to express my appreciation to the people in Galesburg who have made girls basketball special.
“And I wanted to make sure my players know all of recognition I have gotten is because of how they represented our community and our school.”
District 205 Athletic Director Eric Matthews said the court naming honor will solidify Massey’s legacy for decades.
“Coach Massey has been a staple at Galesburg for 40 plus years,” Matthews said. “He has dedicated his life to the girls basketball program and made it into one of the most successful programs in the state.
“Not only has he won a 1,000 plus games, multiple regionals, sectionals, super-sectionals and state trophies, his biggest accomplishment has been all of the lives he has helped shape on and off the court.
“I cannot think of a bigger honor than naming the court after him. This will solidify his legacy for decades to come.”
The painted signature of John Thiel will remain on the court, along with a signature of Evan Massey.
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