Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner coaches his team under the new sign saying "Welcome To Rosner Arena" after its unveiling before a game against West Chicago Tuesday in Streamwood. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st with the Sabres.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The gymnasium at Streamwood High School will henceforth be known as George Rosner Arena. The school renamed it Tuesday after the man who spent so much time patrolling the sidelines there.
And he had no idea it was happening.
A sign above the scoreboard identifying the gym as George Rosner Arena was unveiled in a ceremony before the Sabres' game with West Chicago. Rosner's family, friends and former players filled the seats behind the scorer's table. A collection of memorabilia from his coaching career greeted fans in the lobby. Apparently, the only one not in on it was Rosner himself.
"They got me on this," the longtime Sabres' girls coach admitted. "My wife asked me for some things and I thought about the alumni game that I have in January. I thought, 'Oh, yeah, it'll be good for the alumni.' I didn't know it was all coming here."
Rosner has announced his retirement after 41 years of varsity coaching. His 460 career victories entering the season puts him 37th on the IHSA's all-time list.
Rosner, a longtime Palatine resident who coached five years at Palatine High School, was nearly at a loss for words at the unexpected honor.
"It's beyond words," he said. "I didn't expect it. I don't deserve these things. But it was an eventful night, seeing people coming from everywhere. I could not believe - every time I turned around there was someone there. There were girls from my grade school teams back in the 70s."
Longtime basketball announcer Brenda Lawrence told Rosner, "You have inspired hundreds of student-athletes to succeed on and off the court. Your dedication and commitment to Streamwood High is unparalleled."
As an added bonus, Rosner picked up career win number 461, the Sabres' first of the year, when Streamwood held off a late West Chicago rally for a 35-30 victory.
The Sabres led 31-21 early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats scored 9 straight to get within a point with under 3 minutes left but didn't score again. Sayuri Ishikawa clinched it for the Sabres with 4 late free throws.
Jamia Gatlin had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Streamwood (1-4) while Ishikawa finished with 11.
Abby Del Preto scored 10 points for West Chicago before fouling out.
"He's not just like a coach, he's more like our best friend in school, out of school, and all that," said Ishikawa. "He always looks out for us. If we have a test together he's always texting us, making sure we're good, sending pictures of his grandkids and stuff like that. In school, he's always making sure our grades are straight and everything."
Rosner called his best friend before the game to tell him that he was getting ready to coach his "last first game." The friend assured Rosner that he was going to play poker three hours away, only to turn up at the game and join in the festivities.
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner meets with officials and team captains before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Rosner was honored with a ceremony before the game to name the gymnasium Rosner Arena. The black tarp at the top of the scoreboard covers a sign saying "Welcome To Rosner Arena." He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner shows emotion as the crowd acknowledges his impending retirement at the end of the season before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Rosner was honored with a ceremony before the game to name the gymnasium Rosner Arena. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner looks at the scoreboard as a tarp is pulled away to reveal a sign proclaiming the gymnasium Rosner Arena before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner looks at the scoreboard as a tarp is pulled away to reveal a sign proclaiming the gymnasium Rosner Arena before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The "Welcome To Rosner Arena" sign is revealed before Streamwood hosts West Chicago in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. Coach George Rosner was recognized before the game for his 41 years in coaching.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner coaches the starting lineup before a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner coaches a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood girls basketball coach George Rosner coaches a game against West Chicago in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. He is retiring at the end of the season, his 41st.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood's Karina Vidales and West Chicago's Miranda Enochs battle for a rebound in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood's Jamia Gatlin is fouled by West Chicago's Jasmyn Trigueros in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood's Angelina Sagadraca and West Chicago's Abby Del Preto and Emily Toran watch as a loose ball is picked up the Streamwood's Mary-Kate Gonzalez in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
West Chicago's Emily Toran tries to get the ball from Streamwood's Mary-Kate Gonzalez in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
West Chicago's Kailey Sabala is surrounded by Streamwood's Sariah Dixon and Jamia Gatlin, right, in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood's Sayuri Ishikawa passes to teammate Sariah Dixon West Chicago's in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Streamwood's Angelina Sagadraca brings the ball up court against West Chicago in a girls basketball game in Streamwood on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com