Kerkman completes his run at West Aurora
One of the greats of Illinois high school basketball is calling it a career.
Gordie Kerkman, who had coached West Aurora's boys basketball team since the 1976-77 season, is announcing his retirement, according to a West Aurora press release.
He led the Blackhawks to eight downstate appearances in that span, including a championship in the 1999-2000 season with a team that finished 32-1. Kerkman-led teams also earned a runner-up state finish in 1996-97 and third-place finishes in 1979-80, 1983-84 and '03-04.
Most recently, West Aurora narrowly missed out on a ninth downstate trip under Kerkman with a 1-point loss to Bolingbrook in the Hinsdale Central supersectional to cap a 22-9 season.
Kerkman picked up career victory No. 800 on Feb. 20 in a game at South Elgin and wrapped up the season with a total of 805 wins - putting him fifth on the state's all-time list behind only St. Joseph's Gene Pingatore (962), Rockford Boylan's Steve Goers (881), Dick Van Scyoc of Peoria Manual (826) and Centralia's Arthur Trout (811).
"I have enjoyed my experiences coaching at West High the past 53 years," Kerkman wrote in a press release. "I feel however that the time has come when I must retire to live a more relaxed life. I would like to thank the administration, both past and present, the student body, faculty and community for the support you have given our basketball program."
Kerkman suffered a broken ankle and elbow in a fall outside his home in February, missing only a couple of games before returning to the bench to finish the season.