Teagle deserving of accolades

Craig Teagle is an all-star.
He has proven as much during his career as the boys basketball coach at Jay County High School. His selection and performances as coach of the Indiana All-Stars was a reminder of how lucky the Patriots are to have him at the helm.
Seeing him coach game in and game out at JCHS, it’s easy to take what he’s done for granted. But we shouldn’t.
Under Teagle, Jay County has racked up 11 straight winning seasons. The Patriots have won 15 or more games in eight of those years, including an 18-4 mark in 2011-12.
He has led Jay County to five sectional titles, including a Class 4A crown in 2011. And, of course, he coached the Patriots to their only state championship appearance in any sport as the team finished as the Class 3A runner-up to New Castle in 2006.
That state finals team, which saw no player average 13 points per game, was the perfect example of one of his greatest strengths — getting the most out of his players.
His coaching accomplishments come largely because no coach in the state spends more time studying basketball and preparing for opponents than Teagle. That would be impossible.
Even last week, as he led one of the most talented all-star teams in Indiana’s history, he didn’t take it easy. After two practices with his squad in Indianapolis on June 5, he and his staff drove 100 miles south to Louisville to scout their Kentucky counterparts.
Teagle’s teams thrive on fundamentals — smart shot selection, rebounding and, above all else, great defense. That approach paid off Saturday during the final game of all-star week, when the Indiana group locked down and erased a six-point deficit to Kentucky with a 30-5 run on the way to finishing 4-0.
“He’s very energetic,” said Yogi Ferrell, a point guard from Park Tudor who leads a highly-touted recruiting class at Indiana University. “He’s a really good guy. … His main thing was defense, which is what I really like about him.”
“It’s been great,” added R.J. Hunter, who will play for his father, former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter, at Georgia State University, of playing for Teagle. “I’d love to play for him in school ball. He’s real disciplined. … He’s a good guy too. He’s cool off the court, and I love him.”
In addition to the players on his all-star team, Teagle also drew high praise from a group of Indiana Pacers players who were seated courtside for the game at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.
In being selected to lead the team this season, Teagle joined an impressive list of men who have coached the Indiana All-Stars.
Glenn Curtis, who coached two different schools to a combined three state championships, led the squad in its second season in 1940. Bill Green, who won six state championships including five at Marion, and, Bill Harrell, winner of three state crowns at Muncie Central, each coached the all-stars twice. And Basil Mawbey, who has been to the state title game with three different teams and won twice, was the 1986 all-star coach.
Among active coaches who have led the all-stars are Terre Haute South’s Pat Rady, who is the wins leader among active coaches with 714 in 48 seasons, Terre Haute North’s Jim Jones (679 wins), Bloomington South’s J.R. Holmes (669 wins and two state championships) and Lawrence North’s Jack Keefer (616 wins and four state championships).
All of the above coaches are members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Teagle said last week that he wasn’t sure if his name belonged with those of some of the Indiana All-Star coaches who have come before him. He’s rarely wrong about anything basketball-related, but he is wrong about that.
Not only does Teagle deserve to be on the list, he belongs right at the top.[[In-content Ad]]