Longtime Marengo coach Roger Cannon set to be inducted into IBCA hall of fame

Former Marengo boys basketball coach Roger Cannon will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in May after a successful career with the Indians. He’ll join the Class of 2025 as a member of the Career Coaches category.

“This is quite the honor,” Cannon said in a statement. “We had so much fun, especially with assistant coach Ron Traven.”

Cannon came to Marengo in 1970 after graduating from Eastern Illinois and was former Marengo coach Homer “Bill” Barry’s assistant for 27 years. During that time, Marengo won 552 games, 16 regional championships, four sectional titles, a supersectional and a trip to the state finals during the 1989-90 season.

He took over the program in 1997 and led it for three seasons. The Indians went 79-16 under Cannon, winning three conference championships along with two regionals and a sectional crown.

“I have the utmost respect for coach Cannon for teaching me how to be a better player,” former Marengo player, coach and athletic director Chad Olson said. “I admire Coach for his loyalty and leadership that he gave to his teams, students and community. I am grateful for having him as my coach and having such a positive impact on my life.”

Cannon came to Marengo after a historic playing career at Neponset. He’s the Zephyrs’ career scoring leader after tallying 1,809 points from 1962 to 1966.

The IBCA induction ceremony will take place May 3 on the campus of Illinois State in Normal. Marengo will honor Cannon on Jan. 17 during the Indians’ game against Harvard.

“I was blessed to have a wonderful wife, Sherry, and loving children,” Cannon said, “as I was gone many hours of the day and evenings away coaching.”