LCHS basketball coaches Alexander,
Farmer among area selections as 2026 IBCA Coaches of the Year
[April 25, 2026]
Lincoln Community High School basketball head coaches Neil
Alexander and Cory Farmer each have been named a 2026 Illinois
Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in their respective
sports for IHSA Class 3A District 18.
Alexander, currently at No. 2 on the Illinois High School
Association career wins list, picked up the honor in leading the
Railer boys basketball team to a 25-8 overall record. Farmer was
chosen after leading the LCHS girls basketball team to a 25-9 mark
in his first season as head coach of the Lady Railers.
Both Alexander and Farmer were chosen as IBCA Coaches of the Year
from among all schools located in IHSA Class 3A District 18. Of the
808 IHSA member schools across the state, LCHS was one of only 29
schools from which the Coaches of the Year for both boys and girls
basketball were selected. Another such school was Clinton High
School, which had boys Coach of the Year Victor Binkley and girls
Coach of the Year Josh Williams for IHSA Class 2A District 15.
In addition, Mount Pulaski girls basketball head coach Ryan
McVickers was chosen as Coach of the Year from IHSA Class 1A
District 18.
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Several junior high coaches were also honored as
IBCA Coaches of the Year, including: Christina Fink, girls coach at
West Lincoln-Broadwell (IESA Class 7A District 18); Clint Fletcher,
boys coach at Williamsville Junior High (IESA Class 8AAA District
18); Scott Francis, boys coach at Illini Central Middle School in
Mason City (IESA Class 7AA District 16), Luke Rudolph, boys coach at
Clinton Junior High (IESA Class 7AAA District 15); Ron Spencer,
Hartsburg-Emden Junior High (IESA Class 8A District 18); and Jeff
Thompson, Midwest Central Middle School in Green Valley (IESA Class
8AA District 18).
All coaches selected will be honored at the annual IBCA Coach of the
Year Luncheon on Saturday, May 2 at CEFCU Arena on the campus of
Illinois State University in Normal.
Founded in 1971, the IBCA serves, honors, promotes and develops the
game of basketball in Illinois through advocacy for and support and
celebration of players, officials, media, fans, and member coaches. |
