Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy

Legendary Hillcrest Academy head boys basketball coach Dwight Gingerich continues to pile up wins while leading the Ravens. Joining the 700 win club last season, one of only six members in Iowa history, and just two that remain active, he now stands at 723 all-time victories, second among active coaches and sixth all-time. Gingerich trails only Harlan’s Mitch Osborn with 749 victories among those who remain on the sideline through this season. Retired coaches ahead of Gingerich include legends Bob Hilmer with 917 wins, Fred Parsons with 784, Dan Beck with 752 and Al Marshall with 738.

Gingerich has compiled an overall record of 723 wins against 227 losses during his 40 years with the program. Those 723 wins are most in state history for a coach at a single school. His .767 winning percentage is second all-time among members of the 700 club. His 950 games coached is the second fewest in the group.

Gingerich’s teams have averaged 18 wins per season and just six losses. Only four times have his teams finished under .500, none since 1996, a string of 27 consecutive winning records. His squads have won at least 15 games in a season 29 times, and at least 20 games, 20 times. Gingerich has led the Ravens to 12 state tournaments, finishing runner-up in Des Moines four times and winning the 1992 Class 1A state championship. In 2015, he was honored by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for his 600th win during the boys state tournament.

The Ravens finished this year with a 12-11 overall record.