Former Area Coach Jeff Carling Passes Away

Former area coach Jeff Carling has passed away. Carling formerly coached at Kinmundy High School and Centralia High School along with Kaskaskia College.

George "Jeff" Carling died Wednesday, August 19 at the age of 74.

Carling went to Kaskaskia College as head men's basketball coach in 1988. He also served as the Director of Student Activities, Student Congress sponsor and Athletic Director. During his time as head of the Kaskaskia program he had 205 victories and 147 losses in 11 seasons.

His 1991 team finished ninth in the NJCAA National Tournament and in 1998 the Blue Devils finished a spot higher in the National Tournament in eighth.

He was named the Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1992, 1996, 1997 and 1998 and the NJCAA Region 24, District 4 and Illinois Community College Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1998.

He coached at Centralia High School for three seasons beginning in 1974-75. He had a 20-7 record his first year, a 17-10 mark in 1975-76 and a 15-11 record in 1976-77.

He spent two years at Kinmundy High School before it consolidated to Kinmundy-Alma. He had a 19-6 mark in 1979-80 and an 11-14 record in 1980-81.

He moved to Florida where he spent five years working at South Sumter High School. He was two years as an assistant boys basketball coach and three years as head of the girls basketball program where he finished with a 34-27 mark. The boys coach resigned and Carling was named head coach. But before he could take over, Carling resigned and left to head back to Centralia to coach Kaskaskia College.

Funeral arrangements are pending.