Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) will honor former athletic director and head men’s basketball coach Russ Damhoff with a special court dedication. The newly refinished Russ Damhoff Court, featuring Damhoff’s signature, will be dedicated on Saturday November 1, in recognition of his decades of service to the SVCC Skyhawks.
Damhoff retired in 2017, after guiding the men’s basketball team and athletic department for 31 years. He successfully led one season after another, finishing with a strong career record of 529–392, and was named Region IV Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2016. Since his retirement, his love of basketball has led him to return to Sauk each year to work with the SVCC Skyhawks men’s team. Beginning this fall, he will start his eighth season as Assistant Coach for the basketball team.
As athletic director, Damhoff oversaw the expansion of athletic programming, adding baseball, cross-country, and softball, while strengthening existing programs, like volleyball and women’s basketball.
Beloved by the Sauk Valley community, SVCC alums, faculty, and staff—Damhoff’s legacy is marked by his commitment and love to the College and its student-athletes. His leadership played a key role in the development of an exceptional athletic program at SVCC.
The College will host the dedication ceremony on Saturday, November 1, during the first home men’s basketball game of the season. The community is invited to attend the dedication, which will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the SVCC Gym.
