Feb 18, 2010 9:17:01 AM

Ripon is naming its basketball court in honor of 30-year head men's coach Bob Gillespie, who ranks among the top 40 Division III men's basketball coaches all-time in victories and winning percentage.

President David Joyce announced the new name for the court in Ripon's J.M. Storzer Center before the Red Hawks' February 13 home game against Beloit.

Gillespie entered Wednesday's game against Carroll (Wisconsin) with a 482-226 record (.680 winning percentage). He has coached the Red Hawks to 10 appearances in the Division III Men's Basketball Championship and six Midwest Conference titles.

Gillespie also serves as director of athletics and head baseball coach at the school, where his baseball teams have compiled a 297-232-3 record through 20 seasons.

He is the son of former Lewis and Ripon baseball coach Gordie Gillespie, whose 1,816 coaching victories through 57 seasons leads all NCAA coaches in the sport. The senior Gillespie remains active as a coach at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member St. Francis (Illinois), where he collected more than half of his wins.