Southwestern Athletic Director Brady Days details the third Athletic HOF class that will be inducted this Saturday when the Spartans host Herron.

NBA and Los Angeles Laker star Kobe Bryant has died with four others in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles.

The private helicopter crashed and caught fire near Calabasas, CA.  

The death comes one day after current Laker LeBron James passed Kobe for third on the all-time scoring list.

 The Morristown Athletic Department is excited to announce the 2019-2020 Athletic Hall of Fame class.  This year’s class becomes the 3rd class to be inducted with the inaugural class being inducted in 2018.

The official 2019-20 induction ceremony will take place in between the JV and Varsity boys basketball games vs. Centervilleon Saturday, February 8, 2020.  There will be a reception for family, friends and fans following the game in the cafeteria.  The junior varsity game begins at noon. 

The Morristown Athletic Hall of Fame committee thanks all individuals who nominated an athlete, coach, team or contributor.  We look forward to having more nominations during the 2020-2021 school year. 

The Morristown Athletic Hall of Fame committee wishes to recognize the following for being inducted into the Morristown Hall of Fame Class of 2019-2020. 

2019-2020 Morristown Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees listed in alphabetical order:

1.         Lowell Albertson

Lowell was the first boys basketball coach to win the Shelby County Tournament in his 1st year of coaching.  His tenure as Athletic Director is the longest in Morristown history.  Lowell has continued to be a fixture at all Morristown sporting events, but got his start with coaching basketball, track and golf.  He went on to serve as athletic director from 1984 to 1999, but has served as assistant AD and in other capacities since his retirement.  Lowell’s service to Morristown is immeasurable, and he continues to be an excellent representative of MHS to the public and other schools.  He remains very popular with other schools in the area including the Mid-Hoosier Conference and Shelby County schools.

2.         Krista (Berry) Awe

Krista is a 2009 Morristown graduate and was an outstanding gymnast during her high school career at Morristown.  She holds all of the MHS gymnastics records – bars, vault, beam, floor and all-around and was a state qualifier her junior and senior years (2008 and 2009).  Krista was the Sectional champion in bars her junior and senior years and floor and vault her senior year.  Krista was also the Regional champion in vault her senior year.

3.         Bill Goble

Bill is a 1987 Morristown graduate.  During his time at MHS, Bill was a 4 year letter winner in cross country and track and holds 3 school records – cross country, 1600m and 3200m.  He was the Shelby Country Cross Country Meet Champion and 3200m County Track Champion all 4 years of his high school career.  Bill also won the 3200m Mid-Hoosier Conference race all 4 years as well.  Bill won the Sectional his junior year in the 3200m and went on to place 9th in the State meet that same year.

4.         Erin (Nigh) Flynn

Erin graduated from Morristown in 2005.  Erin was a part of some of Morristown’s most successful volleyball and basketball teams.  She was a member of the 2003 volleyball team that won the State championship and the 2004 team that was State runner-up and the 2001 State finalist team.  In addition, Erin was an excellent basketball player, 1,209 points which ranks 2nd all-time in school history. She was a part of 2 Sectional titles and 2 Shelby County Tournament title teams.  During Erin’s 4 years of volleyball, the teams had a record of 125 wins and 30 losses with 3 State finals appearances.  The team won the Mid-Hoosier Conference and Shelby County Tournament all 4 years as well.  Erin holds the record in career kills with 968.

5.         *Marvin Wood

Marvin”s playing career at Morristown spanned from 1943 to 1946.  Marvin wasa 4 year starter and was an integral part of Morristown’s first Sectional championship team as a freshman.  He was the leading scorer in the Sectional championship game.  The team went on to win the Shelby County Tournament his junior and senior years.  Marvin was the first Rouse-Wortman Award winner.  Marvin went on to play basketball at Butler for 3 years.  Marvin is best known for being the coach of the “Milan Miracle”, 1954 Milan State Championship team that also reached the State Finals in 1953.  Marvin was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.

*deceased

Bobby Cox, Commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. since 2011, announced to the IHSAA Executive Committee his intention to retire effective August 1, 2020.

Cox’s announcement came this morning as part of the group’s January meeting.

Cox, 63, and who will be completing a 41-year career in education, joined the IHSAA as an assistant commissioner in 2000 and began his tenure as the IHSAA’s eighth commissioner on February 1, 2011 succeeding Blake Ress (2000-11).

Other former IHSAA commissioners include: Bob Gardner (1995-2000), C. Eugene Cato (1983-1995), Ward E. Brown (1976- 1983), Phil N. Eskew (1962-1976), L.V. Phillips (1945-1962) and Arthur L. Trester (1929-1945).

“It has been an honor to serve as Commissioner of this great organization,” says Cox. “I will take away fond memories and a sense of accomplishment on behalf of our member schools and thousands of Hoosier students knowing that education-based athletics remains vitally important and relevant in our state.”

The Personnel Committee announced that a plan to begin the search for a new commissioner will be developed and presented to the IHSAA Executive Committee at its February meeting. During Cox’s tenure as Commissioner, the IHSAA has made unprecedented advances in numerous areas all with the intention of further strengthening the IHSAA’s brand and trumpeting the many values and benefits of participation in education-based athletics. He oversaw an expansion of corporate partnerships and sponsorships for the Association and pushed for strides in sportsmanship, technology, coaches education, student-athlete health and safety, officiating recruitment and retention, and servant leadership just to name a few.

Perhaps most special to Cox was the Association’s embrace of the Champions Together initiative, a partnership with Special Olympics Indiana which established the newest state tournaments in Unified Track and Field (2014) and Unified Flag Football (2018). The two sports allow students with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together in a team setting for their school.

In 2014, he helped finalize a deal with the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever to become the presenting sponsors of the boys and girls basketball state tournaments, the first professional basketball franchises in the country to partner with a state high school association.

Cox oversaw the creation and formation of the IHSAA Foundation in 2015 which continues to operate for the charitable benefits of IHSAA member schools and their student-athletes. That same year, the IHSAA took the unprecedented step of self-producing state championship events along with games of the week in football and basketball using its online streaming platform at IHSAAtv.org.

Together with the IHSAA Champions Network, it has grown into one of the most successful high school sports broadcasting aggregates in the United States.

Additionally, he’s worked to promote the #FaceOfSportsmanship initiative to address student and adult behaviors, authored the Tournament Success Factor in team sports, and oversaw the move to multiple classes in boys and girls soccer (2011), and the addition of a sixth class in football (2013).

He also orchestrated a total redesign and launch of the IHSAA members and officials website at myIHSAA.org (2018) and a renovation of the IHSAA building in 2011.

“Commissioner Cox has been a tremendous asset to the IHSAA during his service to the association and the State of Indiana,” says Matt Martin, chairman of the IHSAA Executive Committee and athletic director at Knightstown High School. “Under his leadership and guidance, the IHSAA is currently at the forefront of numerous policies due to his knowledge and leadership. When the commissioner retires in August, the IHSAA will be in great standing due to his hard work and dedication. It has been a pleasure to serve as chairman and on the IHSAA Board of Directors under Commissioner Cox.”

Prior to being appointed commissioner, Cox had served as assistant commissioner from 2000-11 administering the sports of football, boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ track and field, and wrestling. In addition to leading the IHSAA, Cox has served on several different boards of directors including the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the IHSAA Foundation, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the Indiana Sports Corporation, the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), and the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation.

He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the 2022 College Football Playoff Host Committee. Previously, Cox was a member of the NFHS Football Rules Committee serving as the Chairman of the Research subcommittee from 2008-2011. Additionally, he served as a member of the NFHS Coaches’ Education committee from 2002-06 and as an advisor to the Commission on Sports Medicine of the Indiana State Medical Association.

Before joining the IHSAA, Cox had spent the previous 21 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator in the Carmel Clay Schools. He served as athletics and activities director at Clay Junior High School from 1990-97, and as the athletic director at Carmel High School from 1997-2000. At Carmel High School, his responsibilities included management of 54 athletic teams and 97 coaches who annually served more than 1,100 student athletes. During his tenure as athletic director, he served as the host administrator for numerous IHSAA tournament events, including the cross country and softball state finals.

Professionally, Cox earned the designation of Certified Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

He is a 2019 inductee into the Carmel High School Alumni Hall of Fame, where he graduated in 1975 and participated in cross country and track and field. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Butler University in 1979 and a master’s degree in secondary education from Butler in 1987.

Cox’s wife, Kathy, is a retired Athletic and Activity Director at Clay Middle School.

Shelbyville head boys basketball coach and assistant athletic director Ryan Mack resigned from his posts on Monday.

Mark Drake and Johnny McCrory talk about the basketball program transition.

The fourth annual Basketball Day Indiana will be hosted by Kokomo, Ind., at historic Memorial Gymnasium.

 Basketball Day Indiana 2020 is set for Saturday, Feb. 8. Basketball Day Indiana is a full day of games and television coverage celebrating Indiana’s game. It is produced by FOX Sports Indiana, the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and IHSAA. It is presented by Ascension St. Vincent.

“We’re thrilled to bring Basketball Day Indiana to Kokomo alongside our partners the Pacers, Fever, IHSAA and Ascension St. Vincent,” said FOX Sports Indiana senior vice president and general manager Jack Donovan. “We want to showcase the state’s iconic gyms and communities each year as part of Basketball Day. The tremendous history of Memorial Gymnasium and enthusiasm of the Kokomo community make it an ideal setting.”

Plans for Basketball Day Indiana 2020 include:  

Kokomo’s Memorial Gym to host Basketball Day Invitational

Four marquee high school boys games will be played at historic Memorial Gymnasium in Kokomo. All four games – one featuring the Kokomo Wildkats -- will be televised live on FOX Sports Indiana. The full slate of games will be announced later this month.

Memorial Gymnasium was built in 1949 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.  

Pacers home games bookend 24+ hours of Basketball Day programming

The celebration begins Friday, Feb. 7, with the Pacers’ home game vs. Toronto.

Basketball Day TV programming will continue throughout the night. Live coverage from Kokomo will start Saturday morning. Basketball Day concludes with the Pacers’ Saturday home game vs. New Orleans.  

Special recognition at the Pacers Hickory Night

This also will be a Pacers Hickory Night during which Indiana University and Purdue University coaching legends Bob Knight and Gene Keady will be recognized in a special halftime ceremony.

Every IHSAA varsity game statewide to be part of Basketball Day

Every high school hosting a home game that weekend will receive a Basketball Day flag. The schools will join the celebration by posting photos to social media with the hashtag #BasketballDayIndiana.  

Coverage of IHSAA Girls Tournament

FOX Sports Indiana will provide reports throughout the day on IHSAA girls sectional tournament games.

“As we continue our theme of ‘We Grow Basketball Here’, few things exemplify that effort more than the role of the Pacers and Fever in Basketball Day Indiana,” said Rick Fuson, president and COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. “We are delighted to once more join our partners at FOX Sports Indiana and the IHSAA in showcasing our Indiana game in this special Indiana way.”

“Once again we are excited to partner with our friends at FOX Sports Indiana, the Indiana Pacers, and Indiana Fever to celebrate basketball in the Hoosier State,” said IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox. “Basketball Day Indiana has become a highly anticipated event within the IHSAA membership and we are excited to have the City of Kokomo as this year’s host. Historic Memorial Gymnasium is a great venue to showcase the rich tradition of basketball in our state. Our sincere thanks are extended to FOX Sports Indiana and the City of Kokomo along with the Pacers and Fever for their tremendous support of high school basketball in our state.”

“It is an honor and a thrill for the City of Kokomo to play host to Basketball Day Indiana 2020,” said Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore. “Our community is rich with basketball tradition, and I can’t think of a better place in the state of Indiana to watch a game than Kokomo High School’s storied Memorial Gymnasium. We look forward to the chance to share our love of the game with basketball fans from across the state on February 8!”

“Kokomo School Corporation is proud to be chosen as the first Indiana high school to host Basketball Day Indiana, at historic Memorial Gymnasium,” said Dr. Jeff Hauswald, Superintendent, Kokomo School Corporation. “Memorial Gym is an integral part of the thread of our Kokomo community and a very special place for the thousands of athletes who have played in this storied hall. In addition to the basketball traditions we celebrate in this historic gymnasium, I would be remiss to not celebrate the role basketball, athletics, and all extra- and co-curricular activities play in public education. Research continues to prove that students who are involved in such activities; on the average, have higher attendance at school and achieve higher academic grades. I wish to say thank you to the IHSAA, and the many organizations, which have sponsored programs and events such as this one over the years; as well as the communities who have supported their athletic teams and their athletes during the last century!”

For more information on Basketball Day Indiana, visit FOXSportsIndiana.com, Pacers.com and IHSAA.org, and check #BasketballDayIndiana.

About Basketball Day Indiana

Basketball Day Indiana is an annual celebration of the state’s unmatched connection to the sport. It showcases basketball at all levels with events and a full day of television programming that includes live games, interviews and features chronicling the impact of the sport in the state. Basketball Day Indiana is produced by FOX Sports Indiana, the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and IHSAA.

Dear Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fan,

We are excited to begin a new era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in 2020. On behalf of everyone at Penske Corporation, we look forward to carrying on the tradition of the legendary facility as the new stewards of IMS.

I want to thank you for your support of racing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and I want you to know that we appreciate having you as our loyal fan.

You can expect to see a few changes in place at the Speedway this year as we are very focused on enhancing your experience at the track and making sure that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues to be one of the best entertainment venues in the world.

We look forward to seeing you soon at IMS during this exciting and historic year at the Racing Capital of the World.

Sincerely,

Roger Penske