Coaching Staff
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Steve Garber, Head Coach Coach Garber has just finished his 11th 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 140-30. 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, 13 yrs old. COACHING HISTORY 2008 Head Coach; ICC Junior College 2007 Head Coach; ICC Junior College 2006 Head Coach; ICC Junior College 2005 Head Coach; ICC Junior College 2004 Head Coach; ICC Junior College 2003 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 2002 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 2001 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 2000 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 1999 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 1998 Assistant Coach; ICC Junior College 1989 Assistant Coach; University of Maryland Division I 1988 Assistant Coach; University of Maryland Division I 1986 Head Coach; Metamora Community High School WNBA Players Coached: |
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Greg Martin, Assistant Coach Coach Martin is beginning his ninth season as part of the ICC Women’s Basketball Staff. He began coaching thirty-nine 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 current 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 38 years. They have two married daughters and four 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. |
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Laura Criswell, Assistant Coach Laura begins her 5th year as an assistant coach. Laura has been the assistant coach with the 2003 and the 2006 National Championship Teams. Laura’s full time job is with the Children’s Home in Peoria for the past 2.5 years. Laura played basketball at Brimfield High School from 1994-98. While at Brimfield she received 3rd team All-State honors her senior year and was on the All-Conference selection during each of her four years. She was selected to play in the senior IBCA All-Star game after graduating from Brimfield. Her #23 jersey has also been retired from Brimfield High School. In 1998, Laura signed with Illinois Central College. Her first year, the Cougars won the NJCAA National Championship. Her second season at ICC, she was co-captain of the 1999-2000 team that finished 3rd in the nation. During that year, Laura made the All-Region 24 team and the Regional Tournament team as well. Laura Transferred to University of Illinois-Springfield from 2000-2002. She led her team in scoring and broke numerous UIS free throw records. She made the All-Conference team at UIS in 2002. Laura received her Associates Degree in Psychology and her K-9 teaching certificate in December of 2002. |
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Riley Gardner, Assistant Coach Riley is in her sixth 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 four years, and this past season they placed third 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 junior 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. |
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Amy Fuller, Assistant Coach Amy begins her first year helping out with the ICC’s women’s basketball program. Amy works full-time at ICC teaching the CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Project) program. Amy played basketball locally at Peoria Heights High School from 1997-2001 and continued her career the following two years at Illinois Central College. While starting for the Cougars, her 2001-02 team finished in third place in the national tournament. That season Amy was named to the 2nd Team NJCAA DII All-American squad. The following year, Amy’s team won the National Championship, going 33-3. Amy then played on the women’s basketball team at Bradley University from 2003-2005. She majored in dietetics at Bradley and then most recently received her Masters Degree in dietetics from Eastern Illinois University in 2007. She resides in Peoria and works in the downtown facility for Illinois Central College. Amy brings a great winning perspective to ICC’s basketball program, as her knowledge and skill now carry over to coaching basketball with which she was so successful while attending Illinois Central College. |
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