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Top 5 Coaches of the Decade
5 - Jay Hatch (Alleman)
Girls basketball and golf coach at Alleman. Former girls softball coach. Coached 2005
girls basketball team to a Class A State Championship. Girls basketball teams qualified for
the State Tournament two other times during the decade (2001 and 2002's third place
team), and won four Sectionals and seven Regionals, including two in large school
competition. Softball teams qualified for the State Tournament twice (2003 and 2005) and
won one more Regional in 2004. Coached softball teams to three state championships in
the 1990s. Career record of 366-197 (as of 2009) as girls basketball coach since
1991-92. Career record of 363-127-3 as girls softball coach from 1991-92 and
1993-2006.Currently in second year coaching girls golf, led that team to a 17-4 record in
2008.
4 - Mike Papoccia (Newman)
For nearly 30 years, the man behind high school athletics at Newman. Long-time football
coach at Newman. Also coached girls basketball, and is current boys basketball coach.
Football team won Class 2A State Championship in 2004, the third during his tenure. Blue
Machine teams have qualified for the playoffs the past nine years (78-29). Career record
of 237-87 at Newman since 1980. Returned to coaching girls basketball for first time since
2000, and led Lady Comets to back-to-back Class 2A Sectional championships in 2008
and 2009, falling to eventual state champ Hamilton both years. Career girls basketball
record of 226-67. Coaching boys basketball for the first time this year. Also involved with
IHSA matters as member of the Public/Private Task Force and the Legislative Commission.
3 - Joe Murphy (Winnebago)
Boys basketball coach at Winnebago, serving in that capacity since 1987-88. Previously
coached girls basketball at Winnebago. After starting off the decade under or at .500,
program really took off after his teams qualified for the Class A State Tournament in 2004
and 2005. Also helped lead team to the Class 2A State Tournament in 2009.
Back-to-back Class A runner-up in 2004 (31-2) and 2005 (29-3), falling to Chicago Leo
and Chicago Hales Franciscan (who later forfeited) in title games. Class 2A fourth place
finisher in 2009 (32-2), which was the first team in 17 years to have a perfect regular
season. Decade win-loss record of 235-64. Career record of 457-165 (as of 2009) as
boys coach, and 565-194 overall since 1981-82.
2 - Jim Green (Plano)
Football coach at Plano. Rebuilt Reaper program from one that didn't have a winning
season in 12 years to a string of them, and then some. Coached Reapers to back-to-back
Class 3A state championships in 2006 (14-0) and 2007 (13-1). Only six small, public
football programs had won back-to-back state championships prior to 2007. Coached
2005 team to a Class 3A semifinal appearance and an 11-2 record, having won all 11
games in a row in capturing their first Interstate 8 Conference championship since 1980.
Currently seeing program and school's growth into the larger school ranks, and has led
the program to two straight playoff appearances as a Class 4A school in the past two
years. Began head coaching tenure in 2003 and is 55-24 as head coach. Also coached
softball at Plano in the 1990s.
1 - Joe and Janet Erb (Winnebago)
Husband and wife are boys and girls cross country and boys and girls track coaches at
Winnebago. Coaches of one of Illinois's best dynasties since 2004-05. Under their tenure,
the girls cross country program won Class A state titles five years in a row to date
(2005-2009). The boys program won state championships in 2005 and 2007, occurring
on the same day as the girls championships. Girls program finished fourth in 2004. Boys
program took second in 2006, third in 2008 and ninth in 2004. The boys carried over the
success onto the track, placing third at the State Meet in 2008 and second in 2009.
Coached Jeremy Stevens to his second individual State Championship in 2005, and Sean
Smith to a championship in 2008. Both athletes also won 3200-meter run at the year's
Track and Field Meet. Coached Alex Thompson to back-to-back discus championships in
2008 and 2009. Overall, coached 11 different medalists in cross country (19 medals), and
nine different medalists in track and field, including six relay teams (26 medals).
5 - Jay Hatch (Alleman)
Girls basketball and golf coach at Alleman. Former girls softball coach. Coached 2005
girls basketball team to a Class A State Championship. Girls basketball teams qualified for
the State Tournament two other times during the decade (2001 and 2002's third place
team), and won four Sectionals and seven Regionals, including two in large school
competition. Softball teams qualified for the State Tournament twice (2003 and 2005) and
won one more Regional in 2004. Coached softball teams to three state championships in
the 1990s. Career record of 366-197 (as of 2009) as girls basketball coach since
1991-92. Career record of 363-127-3 as girls softball coach from 1991-92 and
1993-2006.Currently in second year coaching girls golf, led that team to a 17-4 record in
2008.
4 - Mike Papoccia (Newman)
For nearly 30 years, the man behind high school athletics at Newman. Long-time football
coach at Newman. Also coached girls basketball, and is current boys basketball coach.
Football team won Class 2A State Championship in 2004, the third during his tenure. Blue
Machine teams have qualified for the playoffs the past nine years (78-29). Career record
of 237-87 at Newman since 1980. Returned to coaching girls basketball for first time since
2000, and led Lady Comets to back-to-back Class 2A Sectional championships in 2008
and 2009, falling to eventual state champ Hamilton both years. Career girls basketball
record of 226-67. Coaching boys basketball for the first time this year. Also involved with
IHSA matters as member of the Public/Private Task Force and the Legislative Commission.
3 - Joe Murphy (Winnebago)
Boys basketball coach at Winnebago, serving in that capacity since 1987-88. Previously
coached girls basketball at Winnebago. After starting off the decade under or at .500,
program really took off after his teams qualified for the Class A State Tournament in 2004
and 2005. Also helped lead team to the Class 2A State Tournament in 2009.
Back-to-back Class A runner-up in 2004 (31-2) and 2005 (29-3), falling to Chicago Leo
and Chicago Hales Franciscan (who later forfeited) in title games. Class 2A fourth place
finisher in 2009 (32-2), which was the first team in 17 years to have a perfect regular
season. Decade win-loss record of 235-64. Career record of 457-165 (as of 2009) as
boys coach, and 565-194 overall since 1981-82.
2 - Jim Green (Plano)
Football coach at Plano. Rebuilt Reaper program from one that didn't have a winning
season in 12 years to a string of them, and then some. Coached Reapers to back-to-back
Class 3A state championships in 2006 (14-0) and 2007 (13-1). Only six small, public
football programs had won back-to-back state championships prior to 2007. Coached
2005 team to a Class 3A semifinal appearance and an 11-2 record, having won all 11
games in a row in capturing their first Interstate 8 Conference championship since 1980.
Currently seeing program and school's growth into the larger school ranks, and has led
the program to two straight playoff appearances as a Class 4A school in the past two
years. Began head coaching tenure in 2003 and is 55-24 as head coach. Also coached
softball at Plano in the 1990s.
1 - Joe and Janet Erb (Winnebago)
Husband and wife are boys and girls cross country and boys and girls track coaches at
Winnebago. Coaches of one of Illinois's best dynasties since 2004-05. Under their tenure,
the girls cross country program won Class A state titles five years in a row to date
(2005-2009). The boys program won state championships in 2005 and 2007, occurring
on the same day as the girls championships. Girls program finished fourth in 2004. Boys
program took second in 2006, third in 2008 and ninth in 2004. The boys carried over the
success onto the track, placing third at the State Meet in 2008 and second in 2009.
Coached Jeremy Stevens to his second individual State Championship in 2005, and Sean
Smith to a championship in 2008. Both athletes also won 3200-meter run at the year's
Track and Field Meet. Coached Alex Thompson to back-to-back discus championships in
2008 and 2009. Overall, coached 11 different medalists in cross country (19 medals), and
nine different medalists in track and field, including six relay teams (26 medals).
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