IESA Headlines

IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley Selected for IBCA Hall of Fame

Steve Endsley, Executive Director of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) has been selected as an inductee to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame. Endsley was selected in the Friends of Basketball category.

Endsley started his career with the IESA in September, 1988 and assumed the duties of Executive Director in July, 1996. During his tenure as the Executive Director the number of schools entering the IESA state series in girls basketball and boys basketball has grown tremendously. In 1988, there were less than 200 schools that entered the girls basketball state series. Today there are nearly 425 schools entered. There were 350 schools entered in the boys basketball state series and today that number stands at 450. "The growth of the schools entering the IESA state series is something of which I am extremely proud," said Endsley. "It's not just because of me that we have seen this remarkable growth. It is the work of many who have helped to make our basketball state finals what they are today. It takes dedicated tournament managers, hundreds of volunteers, hard-working officials, coaches, and administrators who care about giving the students an opportunity that for many is truly once-in-a-lifetime. Current and former administrators on my staff like Nicole Schaefbauer, Chris Frasco and Brad Lucey have also done so much for the IESA basketball program along with the rest of the IESA staff and the IESA Board of Directors. I am just the conduit. My whole goal has been to make the experience for students who compete in the IESA basketball state series a positive experience and should they desire to continue their basketball careers in high school and beyond, hopefully they will look back at their IESA days with fond memories. I would like to think that by doing things the right way, making improvements to our program over the years, and caring about the way basketball is perceived and administered, we have contributed to the growth of the sport at the jr. high/middle school level. I am humbled by being selected for this award. I thank the IBCA for this honor and everyone who has been associated with the IESA state basketball series because it is those individuals who have fostered the growth of the sport at the jr. high/middle school level. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I am thankful for all the friendships I have made over the years. I am truly blessed."

The 2021 IBCA Hall of Fame Class will be inducted on yet to be determined date due to COVID-19 restrictions. A complete list of this year's inductees is available at the following link:

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