Will be honored at upcoming IBCA Hall of Fame banquet.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The accolades continue to pile up for the IC Catholic Prep boys basketball team.
Knights coach TJ Tyrrell recently was selected the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year for District 7.
Tyrrell directed IC Catholic Prep to a 21-8 record, the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division title and a Class 2A regional title.
The Knights also won the Coal City tournament, had three all-conference players (Kevin Cheng, Alex Meurer and Austin Reed) and a 3-point state finalist in Matt Sutton.
The IC Catholic Prep program had a 56-24 combined record this past season (freshman, sophomore and varsity teams).
Tyrrell, a 1997 IC graduate, just completed his 15th year coaching in the program. His varsity head-coaching record is 94-50 and his teams have won three conference titles (2013, 2014 and 2017), two regional titles (2014 and 2017) and made one sectional-championship appearance (2014). Three of the five varsity teams he’s coached have won more than 20 games.
This is his second District 7 coach of the year honor. He also won in 2014.
“I was extremely excited when I received the letter,” said Tyrrell. “It’s definitely an outstanding honor to be recognized by the IBCA. I look forward to going down to Bloomington for the Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony with all the coaches from the various districts. It’s a very nice honor.”
Tyrrell said plenty of other people had a hand in the honor. “A lot of this goes to the players and the excellent coaching staff that has put in a lot of hours and doesn’t get a lot of recognition,” he said. “I’m thankful and humbled to have the season we did, winning a conference and regional title. This season is something to be proud of.”
Tyrrell is assisted at the varsity level by Ed Kuprys, who has been with him in that capacity for all five years. Other assistants include recent IC Catholic Prep alums Tommy Hart and Demtrius Mobley, as well as sophomore coach Mike LaCord, a longtime former coach at Westmont High School.
“Ed’s been here five years and Tommy helps out when he can,” said Tyrrell. “Demitrius just finished his first year in the program coaching the freshman and Mike is in his first year as well. These guys have been extremely helpful to me. They do it because they love it. They have been a huge support for me through good times and bad. It’s nice to have solid people who have your back and look out for you like they do.”
Tyrrell was equally complimentary of the support he receives from the IC Catholic Prep administration and community.
“The administration, especially Tom Schergen (athletic director) and Pam Lavar (principal) have been outstanding since Day 1,” he said. “They always are extremely supportive and are always there when you need it. I’m thankful to have Tom as athletic director and Pam as principal. They have been amazing. They make it a pleasure to coach at IC Catholic Prep. We also have great families in the community whether they have kids at IC now or had them here in the past and even families coming up the ranks through the grade schools. It’s great to see them at games and it’s great to have their support. I know I am never alone.”
