'We had a good run': Barry Swanson reflects coaching career, new book on Galesburg Silver Streaks

Описание: Former Galesburg basketball player and coach Barry Swanson, now a critically acclaimed author living in North Carolina, joins WGIL's Jay Redfern to discuss his new book on the 1966 Silver Streaks, along with an inside look at his five decades as a successful coach.

Swanson was a key player and the second-leading scorer on legendary Coach John Thiel’s 1966 Silver Streaks team that brought home the 2nd-place trophy from the IHSA state tournament in Champaign.

Barry later had two successful stints as head coach at GHS where he helped return the Silver Streaks to basketball relevance in Illinois. Six of his basketball teams were ranked among the top 10 teams in the state — including his 1982-83 team that was ranked 2nd at the end of the regular season.

He developed 5 all-staters and watched 11 of his former players play for Division I college teams during a coaching career that spanned five decades.

For good measure, Barry called play-by-play for Thiel’s last season as Galesburg coach as a radio commentator right here on the WGIL airwaves.

He’s a retired distinguished educator, and most recently a successful published author. His first novel, “Still Points,” was a critically acclaimed, award-winning best seller.

Barry recently published a book of his selected poems entitled “The Road We Take” and he's in the process of writing his second novel entitled “In Winter's Midst” due for publication spring 2024.

Barry and his wife, Gail, reside on Lake Norman in North Carolina, and he joins Jay Redfern to talk a lot of basketball, including a glimpse into his upcoming book on the Silver Streaks.

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