West Aurora's Kerkman injured in fall
West Aurora boys basketball coach Gordie Kerkman suffered a broken ankle and elbow in an accident outside his home Monday. He missed Thursday's 75-59 loss to Metea Valley and was uncertain if he'd be back for Saturday's home game against South Elgin.
“I'll see how I feel,” said Kerkman on Friday as his wife, Marilyn, drove him to practice.
The Blackhawks' 39-year head coach fell five feet into a window well outside their Aurora home and hurt his right ankle and left elbow. He's using a walking boot and crutches.
“I didn't feel hurt at the time, didn't feel anything in the foot or ankle, didn't feel anything in my elbow. But the pain came on later,” Kerkman said.
He listened to the WBIG radio broadcast of Thursday's game while assistant coach Paul Kieffer handled the team.
“He's going to be OK, it's just a matter of time,” said West Aurora athletic director Jason Buckley.
On Friday the messaging system on Kerkman's cellphone was full with concerned messages. The coach said former assistant Curtis Shaw had already brought two meals to the house on Thursday.
“I've gotten a lot of phone calls, that's for sure,” Kerkman said.