THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Former coach and administrator Bill Mulvaney stands on the basketball court at Armstrong Township High School that’s now named after him.
ARMSTRONG — Three days after having the Armstrong Township High School basketball court named after him, Bill Mulvaney had his first public encounter with his new fame.
While refereeing an Armstrong girls’ basketball game Monday night, another referee asked if he was the guy the court is now named after.
Mulvaney told him, “Yeah, that’s me.”
Then they chuckled.
“It’s still a little strange,” Mulvaney admitted of the recognition.
On Friday night, Armstrong honored Mulvaney, a former teacher, coach and administrator, before a home varsity boys’ basketball game. The new court in the Armstrong gym is now named “Bill Mulvaney Court.”
Mulvaney’s wife, Carrie, was there to support him. They live in Gifford. His two daughters had previous engagements in which they couldn’t attend.
Many former students and ex-players also came to support Mulvaney on his court dedication night.
What was Mulvaney’s first thoughts when he heard about the naming dedication?
“First of all, I was surprised. I was very humbled,” he said. “I was very honored by the fact that they felt they wanted to do something like that for me.”
He thought courts are named for people with much longer careers. Mulvaney coached for 11 years and is semi-retired after being a 20-year superintendent in Armstrong. He’s currently interim superintendent with the Oakwood School District, in addition to being a Realtor with The Littlefield Group at Keller Williams Realty in Champaign.
He started as a history and physical education teacher and high school basketball coach in 1993 in Armstrong. He was athletic director the following year and also took over as baseball coach, in addition to coaching basketball and cross country. He served as football coach in 1997 with the co-op with Rossville-Alvin. Through 2002, he mainly coached basketball and baseball. He also became principal in 2001 and later superintendent in 2003. He also continued coaching but gave it up when he focused on being a superintendent. Mulvaney was superintendent of Armstrong-Ellis Grade School District #61 and Armstrong Township High School District #225.
Mulvaney said the court dedication night was “definitely a little bit surreal,” but the court naming is started to sink in.
He started as a history and physical education teacher and high school basketball coach in 1993 in Armstrong. He was athletic director the following year and also took over as baseball coach, in addition to coaching basketball and cross country. He served as football coach in 1997 with the co-op with Rossville-Alvin. Through 2002, he mainly coached basketball and baseball. He also became principal in 2001 and later superintendent in 2003. He also continued coaching but gave it up when he focused on being a superintendent. Mulvaney was superintendent of Armstrong-Ellis Grade School District #61 and Armstrong Township High School District #225.
Mulvaney said the court dedication night was “definitely a little bit surreal,” but the court naming is started to sink in.
“When you spend the amount of hours and years in that gym I spent there, it just doesn’t really hit home,” he added. “It’s nice you have a legacy like that. I was lucky enough to coach a lot of really great athletes.”
He said they had a lot of great teams through the years.
He’s thankful for the recognition of his time spent with the school district and community.
“I appreciate it,” Mulvaney said.
He said they had a lot of great teams through the years.
He’s thankful for the recognition of his time spent with the school district and community.
“I appreciate it,” Mulvaney said.
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