Lori Kerans Retiring as Millikin University Women's Basketball Coach

Millikin University Coach Lori Kerans is honored during a game. She is in her final season as head coach at Millikin.

It was love from the beginning.

When Millikin University head coach Lori Kerans first touched a basketball, she had no idea where her love of the game would take her and how it would mold her life's decisions.

Now, it's time to call an end to one part of that love, but it will always be deep in her heart.

"My dad, Bob Kerans recognized my interest in basketball," said Kerans. "I was shooting in the yard at the light pole by the barn long before basketball was a thought for girls in Jasper County. Because my dad is the best educator I know, I think he realized it was time to start a girls basketball team at Newton High School. We had great athletes attending the high school and I think he knew it was time for girls to have their opportunity. He talked with my mom and she gave her blessing.

"Of course for her and other moms that became driving kids around in station wagons, sewing practice gear and washing uniforms. It was definitely a good decision for me personally. But I think when dad started it, it was far more the educator in him than as a parent."

Newton began girls basketball in the fall of 1977. The first Eagles team went 7-7 with Bob Kerans as the head coach.

"We had such good athletes," said Lori. "There were Melinda and Jan Blade along with a Meinhart and a Probst on the team. It was just aweome to be able to play the game with officials, scorebook and people in the stands instead of at a basketball hoop in your yard."

Kerans was one of the top players on the team and the squad improved immensely taking regional titles in 1978-79 and 1980-81. Then came the next step. Kerans decided to take her love onto the next level when heading to college.

"I had been recruited by a couple of schools who had talked about offering me an athletic scholarship. It was not a goal of mine. I was a pretty good student. I definitely knew I’d go to college because education was important in my family.

"I was going to go to EIU because it was kind of the state school of choice. I don’t even know how it started, but my folks said 'Let’s look at Millikin'. I was a state scholar and in the top 10 in my class, I think Millikin, academically found me. We made a campus visit and got to meet with physical education faculty and got to watch a game and I just thought, 'this is awesome'. I interviewed for the honor’s scholarship and was named a James Millikin Scholar.

"It became an easy decision for me. I wanted to play at a high level and I knew Milikin would do that for me. And I wanted to get a great education. I feel blessed."

Kerans was a standout athlete at Newton in volleyball, basketball and softball. But the college level was a different story.

"Like most 18-year-old students, I was feeling pretty proud of myself," said Kerans. "I came to Millikin thinking I would play all three sports. Our volleyball team was really, really good so I went and tried out. For the first time in my life, the cut list was posted and I didn’t make the team and I was devastated. I remember thinking maybe I’m not as good as I thought I was. I have great empathy for high school kids now.

"In my freshman year, we didn’t have a varsity softball program. In the fall of 1981 we started a club softball team with the intention of it being a team my sophomore year. My freshman year I played basketball and club softball.

"Harriet Cornell coached the women's basketball team and did so for 16 years and was the first coach. They made the first-ever NCAA Tournament, Division III. We made that tournament during the 1981-82 season and we got to fly to California as one of 16 teams to play that year. I went on to play basketball four years and softball three years. That experience culminated my senior year in 1984-85 when we went to the Final Four."

During her senior year, Kerans accepted a graduate at Illinois State University working in the physical education program as an administrative assistant.

"I graduated on a Sunday in May and I started grad school the next day at Illinois State earning a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration. I thought I wanted to be a coach and administrator. I’m glad I started right away because I got a full course load that summer and I learned a whole lot.

"Then in December of 1985 I got the call to come back to Millikin to be just the second coach for the women's basketball program. I accepted the job. I was so happy I could finish that Master’s Degree in one year instead of two. "

And, that's where Keran's life as a college coach took her back to Millikin where 32 years later she is giving up the reins of the program but is going to remain at Millikin as Director of Alumni Engagement.

"I have been very blessed to serve Millikin in lots of different ways," said Kerans. "That’s back to my roots at Newton and my parents. They had the hearts of a servant.

"My first two years I was a live-in residence hall director. I got to coach in the afternoon but really my job was learning how to support students and retain them at the university setting. I was the one they called when they were sick, in trouble, wanted to celebrate something and a multitude of other things. I think that set up my coaching success."

Kerans owns a 556 wins and 276 losses mark. She has had 24 winning seasons. She has led the Big Blue to 13 20-win seasons. In 2004-05 she led Millikin to its 14th NCAA appearance and its first-ever NCAA championship. She has been named CCIW Coach of the Year seven times and has been honored by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association as its Women's Division III Coach of the Year 10 times.

"For me it was never about wins-losses, championships or trophies," stated Kerans. "It was about the life of a student-athlete. Some parents, coaches, etc. were entrusting me with their child or student/player. I embraced that and took it very, very seriously. I never started a season with how many games I could win, it was how can I help my students."

Kerans' life has had ups and certainly some downs, especially during the 1987-88 basketball season.

"In the fall of 1987, right before the season was to start, I had a mastectomy and immediately took chemo and was preparing for radiation. I had no family history of cancer and it just blind-sided me.

"But I am so blessed and thankful I went through that during a basketball season. Working with the team and just getting up every day ready to go to practice, helped a lot. That 1987-88 team was the only undefeated team I had in my 32 years. I really think it’s because anytime you take a team of people whether it’s work, family, faith, athletics, they have a common purpose.

"That team of young kids wanted to take care of me, their coach. They were there and went through my losing my hair, mouth sores, sitting in a chair at practice because I was so weak, I couldn't stand. They were talented, bright and very focused that year. My physical worst brought out the best in that team."

Now that she won't be coaching, Kerans has plans.

"On a personal level, I’m going to have the opportunity to spend more time with my family and my walk in faith and also in the community I love so much. My Decatur community means the world to me. I look forward to volunteering at Special Olympics and serving on boards. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to serve.

"And of course, I will be doing a lot of fishing with my dad and nephew Zak. I have to learn how to drive the boat on the trailer. That will be my first challenge this spring.

"I have been here four decades as student, staff member and I feel like the breath of experience I have with faculty and staff has been so much more than just as a women’s basketball coach. I'm looking forward to working with friends and moving forward with my relationship with Millikin. I look forward to many, many years of serving the university."

And, on a side note, Coach Kerans talked about Teutopolis High School Coach Laurie (Holman) Thompson. Thompson is taking her team to the Class 2A State Tournament this Friday and Saturday.

"In my very first set of teams I was blessed enough to have a girl named Laurie Holman who was married to Jeff Thompson. It was a great experience of helping a young family. They had one child while they were both playing basketball.

"Little did I know she was pregnant with her second child as she was finishing up her senior year at Millikin. I look at all the great things she has done and now in her own right as head coach. I think Laurie is standing on the shoulders of not just her parents but also Coach (Dennis) Koester and I think that’s what I’ve tried to do. It has been great to see young kids grow up and do great things for their community and school like Laurie."