Trevians and their fans give Rodgers a celebratory surprise before her final home game

In a hall-of-fame coaching career full of impact, memories and milestones, New Trier girls basketball coach Teri Rodgers reached a pivotal moment on Friday: her final home game.

Rodgers is retiring at the end of this season, marking the end of a storied and successful high school basketball coach, primarily at New Trier High School.

“I don’t think it’ll hit me for a while,” Rodgers said. “I’m just so grateful for this opportunity, and to be a part of these kids’ lives over these years is really, really special.”

Rodgers’ career has been one for the books. In her 27 seasons (all at New Trier), she accumulated more than 600 career wins, 15 regional championships, eight sectional championships and three state trophies. She is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and also won the IBCA’s Derril Kipp Courage Award in 2023. Rodgers also is a co-founder of Grow the Game, an annual girls basketball showcase that centers girls and women in the game and has become a powerful annual event.

The Trevians community made the night special as former players and fans packed into New Trier’s gymnasium to surprise Rodgers and commemorate the event. 

Among those who came to celebrate were Jessica Blackwell and Sarah Eagen, Rodgers’ former players and members of the NTHS class of 2012.

Blackwell and Eagen both traveled considerable distances — from Denver and Los Angeles, respectively — to attend the event.

“What a legacy,” Blackwell said of her former coach. “Her coaching style to have survived all these years is just such a testament to her.”

New Trier held a special ceremony before the game, presenting Rodgers with a framed jersey, signed basketball and flowers. Everyone who came to support Rodgers joined her on the court to watch a tribute video that moved the coach to tears.

Rodgers was unaware of the full scope of the event, only knowing beforehand that just some friends of hers would be in attendance. The magnitude of the ceremonies was a good surprise. 

“It was a really emotional day, and it was a little bit hard to coach in the beginning there because I’m so overwhelmed and touched by this generosity,” Rodgers said. “I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world getting to do this job.” 

For those who know her, such powerful support was not a surprise. 

On and off the court, Rodgers left a lasting impact on many of her former players’ lives. 

“(Rodgers’ impact is) showing up in so many different ways,” Blackwell said. “Being a leader, having come from a background of foundation, which she kind of inspired for us. We see her in so many different parts of our lives.”

Eagen added, “We spent a lot of time building the team, and the pregame rituals we had, boosting each other up when we’re feeling down and protecting each other when people are hurt, that’s still the things that we practice today. She instilled our core values in us for a lifetime, and that’s untouchable.”

Similarly, the wins and losses are not the most important part of Rodgers’ career. 

Seeing many of the key people who left a mark on her career allowed her to focus on the connections that career has created.

“It’s just so special because I’ve always talked like the most important part of his whole endeavor has been the relationships and the relationships they make with each other,” Rodgers said. “For them to come back like this has just been really, really special.”

There is still plenty of basketball to be played for Rodgers and her crew at New Trier despite Friday night’s close loss, 52-48, to Glenbrook North (21-6).

With one more game to play in the regular season, the end of February marks the beginning of postseason play. The Trevians (14-14) earned the No. 6 seed in the IHSA Class 4A Glenbrook North Sectional and will open with No. 11 Niles West on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Rodgers said that the team will have to go back to the drawing board, but she is encouraged by her team’s fight. 

“These kids have a lot of heart, and they play really, really hard,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been really proud of this group.”

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