On Saturday night, Theodore ‘Ted’ Daniels will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for 33 years of service as a basketball official and baseball umpire throughout the state of Illinois.
The annual gala event recognizes former players, teams, coaches, and media members throughout the state. Some of this year’s inductees include:
Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Chicago Weber/Army), former East St Louis Assumption High great Rick Suttle,(Kansas);
Bryant Notree (Illinois, NBA), Yolanda Griffith (Chicago Carver/WNBA), Pam Gant, (Joliet West/Harlem Globetrotters). And of course, our own Ted Daniels.
The man in stripes called ‘Ted’ is still involved in officiating and umpiring basketball and baseball games to this day with the same alertness and passion he’s been known for throughout Southern Illinois.
In addition, he is one of the nations finest French teacher’s, having taught and taken hundreds of East St. Louis Senior High students to France as well as other places abroad.
A former Academic All – American in three sports, Ted, or Mr. Daniels, or coach, (which is what I still call him) has helped several of his former students get involved in coaching, officiating, and umpiring. He has passed the baton to others, like a Maurice Tolson to Kellen Winslow 33-yard gain, or a Alvin Jones to Victor ‘Cooboo’ Scott 33-yard touchdown pass.
Mr. Daniels also is the former Athletic Director at East St. Louis Senior High, and assistant basketball coach during some great year’s when Coy Nunn was the head coach during the mid-late 1970’s and early 80’s.
Kellen Winslow, Terry Hill, Alexander Gilbert, Willie ‘Sweet Pea’ Rodgers, Ray Coleman, Steve Brown, DeMarco Martin, Jimmy Heavens, Walter “To-Tall” Jackson, James Douglas, Bobby Cole, Daryl “Killa” Dixon, Earl Bell, James ‘Pops’ Melton are just a few of East Side’s finest that were influenced by Mr. Daniels in some way.
For those of us who Mr. Daniels has brought into coaching, official, or umpiring, he expects you to do your job professionally, be on time, and you must be neat on the field on floor. If not, he will definitely let you know.
Congratulations coach!
Scott’s Notes:
I’ve been quiet all year on the ‘Slick Rick’ Majerus front at Saint Louis U. But what a waste of money! When you look at the excitement throughout college basketball the last couple of years, does SLU have a basketball team?
And for some of my media buddies who ripped Mike Anderson to pieces on his way back home to Arkansas, why do you give Majerus a pass. He hasn’t produce a NCAA victory since Andre Miller played for him in Utah.
All Anderson did was re-build a proud program at MIZZOU. Majerus on the other hand is like most greedy coaches stealing money. Don’t worry, he isn’t the only coach in the area stealing money.
To be continued….
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