Legendary basketball coach McDougal passes away

Posted October 28, 2016 1:00 am

Daily Herald report

Legendary basketball coach John McDougal passed away on Friday at the age of 92.

McDougal coached at West Aurora High School and Northern Illinois University, among others. He won 682 games - 556 as a high school coach - and is NIU's all-time winningest coach with 136 wins.

He coached West Aurora to third place in the 1973 state tournament. His Blackhawks beat Elgin 54-49 in double overtime in the quarterfinals that year, a game considered by many one of the best state tournament games in IHSA history.

His 1981-82 NIU team was the program's first to reach the NCAA Tournament.

McDougal was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1976, one of many halls of fame that have inducted him. He was also voted one of the 100 "Legends of Basketball" by the IHSA in 2006.

A native of Okmulgee, OK, McDougal graduated from downstate Salem High School and Evansville University in Indiana.

McDougal retired after the 1996-97 season and concluded his career at Rockford Lutheran.

For more on McDougal's life and career, check dailyherald.com later on Saturday, or in Sunday's print editions.

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