Hall of Fame
In 1952 Rich Maack finished an outstanding athletic career at Collinsville (Ill.) High School in which he lettered three years in basketball, baseball and cross-country. He entered the university in 1953 and immediately established himself as one of the top basketball guards in the MIAA. Mr. Maack was named to the All-Conference first team in 1954-55 and 1955-56. Perhaps, though, the award that meant the most to him during this time period was the MIAA Sportsmanship plaque, which he received in 1956. After graduation in 1956 with a B.S.E. degree, Mr. Maack taught and coached at West Park High School in Kinderhook, Ill., Pittsfield (Ill.) High School, Paris (Ill.) High School and Lockport (Ill.) High School for 11 years. His basketball teams during this period of time were 155-106. Mr. Maack also coached baseball, cross-country, track, tennis and golf on the high school level. In 1967 he was hired by Triton College in River Grove, Ill., to start a basketball program, the same year the school was founded. In the past two decades, his basketball teams have compiled a 325-178 record and have captured five conference championships. Mr. Maack also started the baseball program and was tennis coach for four years at Triton. He holds an M.S. degree from Indiana State and is a member of numerous educational associations. In addition to his duties as basketball coach, he served as men's athletic director and assistant dean in the School of Arts and Science at Triton. During the 1984-85 season, Maack was head coach of the Chiaco Spirit in the Women's Professional Basketball League.
