Three of the four Class 1A state finals coaches back where they played in high school

PEORIA — Apparently, you can go home again.

Three of the four coaches whose teams are in the 1A state finals are back at the schools where they played their high school ball.

Todd Tripp is back at Goreville, Jon Kraus is at Okawville and Alex Coppejans is at the state finals for the second time in his career for Annawan.

Tripp was on the Goreville team that won a regional title in 1993, and he took over the program in 2004.

“Ever since I’ve been little bitty, I wanted to coach,” he said. “And I got a chance to come back and take over for the coach that coached me in high school (Jerry Qualls).”

“I’m a home boy, I guess,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to come back. Nobody wants to leave home.”

Please click on the link for the full story from Johnny Campos of the Peoria Journal-Star

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/20180309/three-of-four-class-1a-state-finals-coaches-back-where-they-played-in-high-school