A high school basketball coach in central Illinois became just the second boys basketball coach in IHSA history to win 1,000 games over the weekend, but his career began in Mercer County.
Lincoln High School boys basketball coach Neil Alexander reached the milestone in a 60-32 win over Lanphier on Saturday.
Alexander’s coaching career began at Westmer High School, where he served as varsity football coach in the 1976 season and varsity boys basketball coach in the 1976-77 season. He says he can still remember his first win.
Alexander is second on the all-time IHSA boys basketball wins list, behind only Gene Pingatore, who won 1,035 games at Westchester St. Joseph.