BND sports writer Dean Criddle among IBCA Hall of Fame class of 2020 inductees

The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association released the names on its Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Monday.

The roster of more than 90 inductees is dotted generously with names from metro-east high school and college basketball programs. Among them is longtime Belleville News-Democrat sports writer Dean Criddle.

Criddle, a native of Freeport, Illinois and graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, began working for the BND as a sports clerk in 1988. He’s covered countless high school events and features, primarily in his former role as the golf, track, cross country, wrestling and girls basketball beat reporter.

In March, he covered the state basketball championship runs of both the Belleville West and East St. Louis boys teams.

He current assignments include basketball and football as well as college recruiting and the St. Louis Battlehawks XFL team.

Last spring, Criddle was recognized by the Illinois Press Association for his interview and retrospective article on the 50th anniversary of pro golfer Bob Goalby’s Masters championship.

Former BND sports writers Norm Sanders and Dave Wilhelm have previously been inducted to the IBCA Hall of Fame.

Criddle and the other new Hall of Famers will be inducted at Illinois State University in Normal in late May.

Other local members of the IBCA Class of 2020 include:

Players

Bill “Rocky” Moore, Waterloo, Northeast Missouri State University

Rubin Perry, Madison, Tennessee State University

Coaches

Steve McFall, Collinsville and Dupo

Larry Henson, Waterloo

Officials

Tom Jackson, Belleville

Marc Parker, Collinsville

Media

Richard Blakley, Pinckneyville, WDQN/WXAN radio

Dean Criddle, Belleville News-Democrat

Friends of basketball

Bob Mallory, Edwardsville

Guy Michael, Highland