Hall of Fame coach Springer dies at 90

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Bill Springer, the Hall of Fame boys basketball coach who won eight sectional titles at Southport and took that school to the Final Four in 1990, died Saturday. He was 90.

Springer won 539 games in 40 years of coaching. Other coaching stops included Linden, Seeger, Brazil, Shortridge, Jennings County and Bloomington South high schools in addition to Southport, according to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Springer guided Southport to the Final Four in 1990, where his team lost to eventual state champion Bedford North Lawrence, led by all-time state scoring leader and Mr. Basketball Damon Bailey, in the state semifinals in front of a crowd of over 41,000 at the Hoosier Dome.

He also coached the Indiana All-Stars in 1990.

Springer is survived by five children. He is the father of Winamac boys basketball coach Mike Springer.

Visitation is set for 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Christian Church. Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Friday.