Truman State University Athletics

Ralph Sterrett played four years of basketball between 1957-61 at the university. He received All-Conference recognition as a senior and helped the Bulldogs win a conference championship in 1959-60. That season, the Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA College Division Tournament. After earning a B.S.E. and M.A. degrees from the university, Mr. Sterrett was appointed head basketball coach at Kirksville High School, where he compiled a three-year record of 69-13. He then went to Alton, Ill., where his record for nine seasons was 140-90. He moved in 1973 to Streator, Ill., where he had two stints as coach, 1973-81 and 1984-88. His cumulative record at Streator was 157-169. Mr. Sterrett is currently athletic director at Streator. In 1987 he was nominated Athletic Director of the Year in Illinois, and he has been inducted into the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. Mr. Sterrett was founder and secretary of the Streator High School Hall of Fame and served as president of the Southwest Coaches Association.