Randy Kindred

The 14-year-old Hernandez is among a handful of females who train and compete at Kingdom City Boxing-Fitness in Normal. In a predominantly male sport, she has earned respect from the boys at the gym.

At 23, he might be the country's youngest director of operations in Division I basketball. And get this: He is in his second year of handling the full-time position at Southern Illinois.

What does it take to become “the voice” of a school and its athletic teams? For some, it means leaving their comfort zone, developing an alter ego.

In saying “I do,” they signed on as football wives. That has meant sacrifice and single parenting, navigating highs and lows of winning and losing, adjusting and readjusting family schedules, driving young children to and from activities, flying solo for their dinner time, bath time, bed time.

For its first 44 years, the Girls Intercity Basketball Tournament was a traveling show, bouncing from one high school to another throughout Bloomington-Normal.

The Pioneers are in the state semifinals for the first time. They take a 10-2 record into Saturday's 7 p.m. game against Mount Zion (9-3) at Hancock Stadium. A victory would earn them a spot in the Class 4A state championship game next week, also at Hancock.

Ron Rose's titles at Illinois Wesleyan University include Head Men's Basketball Coach and Director of NIL Compliance. While accurate, they do not cover everything.

The win was No. 600 in Coffman's career as the Saints' girls head basketball coach. Her 600-184 record, amassed over 27 seasons, includes a state championship, two state runner-up finishes and a third-place trophy. According to Illinois High School Association records, she is the 18th girls coach to reach 600 wins and the 13th to do it at one school.

The numbers separate her from most, but she's not the only coach to win big. She's just the first to do it while fist-bumping fans during warmups and sending players into the stands for hugs just prior to tipoff.

Rose calls Alsene “part of the fabric of Titan basketball,” saying he provides “perspective, joy, excitement.”