East Aurora dedicates gym to legendary coach Ernie Kivisto
By Rick Armstrong rarmstrong@stmedianetwork.com January 18, 2012 12:40PM
Former East Aurora basketball coach Ernie Kivisto will be honored next month when the school’s gym is dedicated in his name. | Beacon-News file photo
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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:23AM
Ernie Kivisto, whose East Aurora High School basketball teams pushed the envelope with their pressure defense and run-and-gun style of play, will be honored next month when the school’s gym is dedicated in his name.
“Ernie made basketball electric in Aurora. From grade school on, you looked forward to being a Tomcat,” said current East coach Wendell Jeffries, who was a senior on Kivisto’s final East team.
Kivisto came to Aurora from United Township in East Moline in 1967 and coached here through the 1981-82 season, compiling a 312-99 record with three trips to the state tournament. He reportedly had 1,002 victories in a 52-year career that included stops at six high schools in several states.
“He was an inspiration to a lot of kids and a mentor to many in this district,” East Aurora School Board President Annette Johnson said at Tuesday’s meeting when the school board decided to honor Kivisto.
“It was the perfect opportunity,” Johnson said, adding that Kivisto’s message of perseverance was one she hoped to share with the district.
Plans are to hold the dedication Feb. 18 before the boys varsity game on the night the East Sports Boosters Hall of Fame induction and senior night ceremonies are held.
Jeffries remembers the message, reinforced by Kivisto Creed, the “12-7-4” stitched on all the polo shirts he wore at practice or had emblazoned on summer camp T-shirts he handed out.
“He always said if you really want to be an excellent basketball player, that’s how much you have to work at it,” Jeffries said. “Twelve months a year, seven days a week, four hours a day.”
Long-time president of East High’s sports boosters Pinky Zepeda, who graduated in 1970, said Kivisto’s high-scoring teams always seemed to “fill the gym to capacity. It was always SRO. It was nothing for his teams to score 100 points.”
“He changed basketball here at East Aurora,” former school board member Henry Cowherd said.
Kivisto stressed pushing the ball up the court and wanted his team to strive for 100 points, said Jeffries.
“He wanted a shot (put) up every four seconds and thought if you could get 100 shots with 10 layups you could hit that goal,” Jeffries said. “He had the whole city abuzz. He changed basketball for sure in the Fox Valley, if not the entire state, with his fast-paced, entertaining pressure game.”
Kivisto’s tenure might have marked the height of the famed East-West rivalry as he went head-to-head with both John McDougal and current West coach Gordie Kerkman. His East teams went 12-13 against McDougal’s Blackhawk squads and 7-7 vs. Kerkman’s. The matchups included six overtime games, three that went to double OT.
“It was quite an experience (facing his teams),” Kerkman said. “Ernie was a tremendous coach and had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for basketball and his players. He created a lot of enthusiasm for the sport in the Fox Valley.
“It may have been the height of the rivalry when he and John went at it because of their difference in styles. Ernie was very flamboyant. John was more reserved and his teams played more conservatively, but both teams were exceptional in that era.”
Erika Wurst
contributed to this story.
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