Coaching Staff

Steve Garber, Head Coach

Coach Garber has just finished his 12th year at Illinois Central College. He began coaching at ICC as an assistant coach in 1987-88 for one season (32-2) before coming back to Illinois Central as an assistant in 1997. From 1997 to 2003, Steve was an assistant for WBCA Hall-of-Fame coach Lorene Ramsey. During that span, ICC won 3 national championships (1998, 1999, 2003), finished third in the nation twice (2000, 2002) and accumulated an overall record of 219-26. Since taking over as the head coach in 2004, ICC has won one national championship (2006), finished second once (2005), third once (2008), and has accumulated a record of 166-37.

Steve is a high school graduate of Metamora High school, a graduate of Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and received his M. Ed degree at Stephen F. Austin State University. He played on the varsity team at Monmouth College all four years, being named one of 3 tri-captains his senior season.

Coach Garber began his coaching career at Metamora high school as head coach for 4 years (62-32). Having coached his sister Jeni (now a women’s basketball assistant at Bradley University) for three years at MTHS, he then became an assistant at ICC for one year (again coaching Jeni during her sophomore season). Following their 32-2 campaign, Steve was hired on at the University of Maryland as assistant coach. During his first year, Maryland made it to the Final Four (1988) and also participated in the NCAA tournament the following year, making it to the second round. From 1990-1995, Steve was the head coach at Francis Marion University, an NAIA program that transitioned into a division II program. His record at the South Carolina school was 64-77 before moving back to the Midwest as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis for one year.

Coach Garber runs numerous summer camps at ICC. He also runs independent shooting, post, intensity camps during the off-season while providing individual lessons to local players as well. Throughout his coaching experiences, coach Garber has reaped the fortunate association of many great players, some of which have gone on to play in the Olympics (Vicky Bullet "88" and "02"), the WNBA (Vicky Bullet, Christy Winters, Katrina Colleton, Jesse Hicks) and most recently a drafted player from the 2003 class at ICC (Christelle N’Garsenet). Being home in the Peoria area, Steve has enjoyed the success at Illinois Central College and continues to maintain the rich tradition of basketball in this central Illinois area. Steve has one son, Lincoln, 14 yrs old.

COACHING HISTORY

2008 Head Coach; ICC Junior College
· Latasha Hollingshed, NJCAA All-American (2nd Team)

2007 Head Coach; ICC Junior College
· Denise Fairbanks, NJCAA All-American (1st Team)

2006 Head Coach; ICC Junior College
· Rachel Merriman, NJCAA All-American (2nd Team)

2005 Head Coach; ICC Junior College
· Alexis Crowder, NJCAA All-American (2nd Team)

2004 Head Coach; ICC Junior College
· LaTrice McMichel, Kodak All-American
· LaTrice McMichel, 2004 DII All-American (1st Team)
· Daria Mieloszynska, 2004 DII All-American (2nd Team)

2003 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Petra Manakova, DII All-American (1st Team)

2002 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Petra Manakova, DII All-American (1st Team)
· Amy Fuller, DII All-American (2nd Team)

2001 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Mandy Sides, DII All-American (3rd Team)

2000 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Natalie Chambers, DII All-American (1st Team)

1999 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Marlena Williams, Kodak All-American
· Marlena Williams, DII All-American (1st Team)
· Beth Zeone, DII All-American (1st Team)

1998 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College
· Kelly Ryan, DII All-American (1st Team)
· Marlena Williams, DII All-American (3rd Team)

1989 Assistant Coach; University of Maryland Division I
· Vicky Bullett, Kodak All-American
· Deanna Tate, Kodak All-American

1988 Assistant Coach; University of Maryland Division I
· Vicky Bullett, Olympic Gold Medalist

1986 Head Coach; Metamora Community High School
· Jeni Garber, Illinois All-State

WNBA Players Coached:
Vicky Bullett, Deanna Tate, Christy Winters, Katrina Colleton, Jesse Hicks, Christelle N'Garsanet

Greg Martin, Associate Coach

Coach Martin is beginning his eleventh season as part of the ICC Women's Basketball Staff. He began coaching over forty years ago at St. Patrick’s School in Washington. After teaching for eighteen years at the Junior High School level, Greg moved on to Washington Community High School. At WCHS, Greg taught in the Social Studies Department. He also spent time coaching various high school teams. Coach Martin served as the JV volleyball coach, JV and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach, and as the JV and Varsity Softball Coach.

A graduate of Eureka College, Greg retried from teaching at the end of the 2006-07 school year. He had spent 38 years in the classroom, the last 20 years at Washington High School.

Coach Martin and his wife Barb have been married for 40 years. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Greg’s ability to motivate and encourage brings out the best of players in their mental approach to perform at greater heights. His demeanor allows players to relax and achieve the success that is expected in the women’s basketball program at Illinois Central College.

Riley Gardner, Assistant Coach

Riley is in her seventh year of assisting the ICC women's basketball program. Her first two seasons as a volunteer helper, and the last four seasons as assistant coach.

Riley began coaching for the FonDuLac Park District in East Peoria for 4th and 5th grade travel team in 2000-2001. The following year, she coached in the Peoria Girls Sports League and began coaching PGSL travel teams. She has also been coaching a PGSL AAU travel team for the past five years, and this past season they placed eighth in AAU State Finals 14U. She is now in her seventh year of coaching all age levels within the league and being co-director of the PGSL.

Riley is now a senior at Bradley University majoring in Business Management. She brings an enthusiasm to the sport of basketball in the field of teaching players how to compete at the next level. Her teaching skills continue to be a big part of our success at ICC.

Rachel Merriman, Assistant Coach

Rachel Merriman is beginning her first year as an assistant coach at Illinois Central College. A Peoria native and 2004 graduate of Peoria Notre Dame High School, Rachel was an Honorable Mention All-State basketball player. After graduating from Notre Dame, Rachel attended and was a standout at Illinois Central College from 2004-2006. While at ICC, Rachel played in two National Championship games, finishing as runner-up in 2005 and as the team captain leading ICC to winning the National Championship at the point guard position in 2006. Rachel broke the Division II NJCAA assist record at the national championship tournament in 2006 with most assists in a tournament (32) and most assists in one game (15). During Rachel’s 2 years at Illinois Central College, she broke the all-time assist record held by now University of Missouri head coach Cindy Stein at 523. Over 68 games of producing 7.7 assists per game, Rachel was a second team NJCAA DII All-American in 2006. She will show great leadership that will now be placed on the sidelines of the coaching staff in continuing the tradition of winning at Illinois Central College

After graduating from ICC, Rachel received a full scholarship to play in her home town at Bradley University. Graduating with a degree in Health Science in 2008, Rachel was also the team captain during her 2008 season at the hilltop. Rachel provides Illinois Central College with an attitude of leadership that will transcend to the players on the court.

Rachel was also a stand out soccer player at Notre Dame High School, receiving All-State honors in 2004. She now resides in Peoria and is pursuing a teaching certificate.