Galesburg Alum Ryan McElmurry Named Interim Head Coach at Peoria High

McElmurry, a 2011 GHS graduate, returns home to lead Peoria High's varsity basketball team.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Ryan McElmurry, a 2011 graduate of Galesburg High School, has been named the interim head coach of the varsity basketball team at Peoria High School. McElmurry played under Coach Mike Reynold's at GHS, where he was known for his toughness, strong defense, and team-first attitude as the point guard. After graduating, McElmurry spent time coaching at the college level before joining the staff at Peoria High in 2020. Now, he has been elevated to the head coaching position, where he hopes to instill the same values in his players that he learned from Coach Reynold's.

Why it matters

McElmurry's journey from Galesburg High School standout to Peoria High head coach represents the impact that strong high school programs and coaches can have on developing young leaders. His commitment to defense, teamwork, and player development aligns with the values that made Reynold's teams at GHS so successful, suggesting he will bring a similar approach to revitalizing the Peoria High program.

The details

After graduating from Galesburg High School in 2011, McElmurry spent a year at Illinois Central College and a year at Black Hawk College before earning his business administration degree from Eureka College in 2015. He then spent a year as a volunteer assistant coach at Eureka before moving to Dallas. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, McElmurry returned to Illinois and was hired as a varsity assistant at Peoria High in 2020. Now, he has been elevated to the interim head coaching position, where he hopes to bring the same toughness, defense, and team-first mentality that defined his playing days under Coach Reynold's.

  • Ryan McElmurry graduated from Galesburg High School in 2011.
  • McElmurry spent a year at Illinois Central College and a year at Black Hawk College before earning his degree from Eureka College in 2015.
  • McElmurry was a volunteer assistant coach at Eureka College in 2019, the first team in program history to reach the NCAA Division III tournament.
  • McElmurry was hired as a varsity assistant coach at Peoria High School in 2020.
  • McElmurry has been named the interim head coach of the Peoria High varsity basketball team for the 2026 season.

The players

Ryan McElmurry

A 2011 graduate of Galesburg High School, where he played under Coach Mike Reynold's and was known for his toughness, strong defense, and team-first attitude as the point guard. McElmurry has since worked his way up the coaching ranks, serving as a volunteer assistant at Eureka College and a varsity assistant at Peoria High before being named the interim head coach.

Mike Reynold

The head basketball coach at Galesburg High School, known for building tough, defensive-minded teams with a team-first mentality. Reynold's had a significant impact on McElmurry's development as a player and person.

Garrett Williams

A former teammate of McElmurry's at Galesburg High School, who describes him as the "ultimate competitor" and a "true point guard" who made his teammates better.

Chad Thompson

Another former teammate of McElmurry's at Galesburg High School, who praises his toughness, commitment to his teammates, and focus on the defensive end of the floor.

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What they’re saying

“Buck (Ryan) was one of the best teammates I ever had. If I only had one word to describe him as a teammate it would be 'Warrior'. Buck was a selfless player that was all about winning and doing the little things even when no one was watching.”

— Garrett Williams

“As a teammate, Ryan was the ultimate competitor. Whether is was summer games, open gym, camp, at the park, practice, or games, he was going to give you 100% and demand 100% from his teammates.”

— Chad Thompson

“Ryan was one of the hardest playing players that I have coached in my career. He was a team first guy that was always leading by example on the court. He had the respect of all his teammates for his hard work and dedication to winning.”

— Mike Reynold, Head Coach, Galesburg High School

What’s next

The Peoria High School administration will evaluate McElmurry's performance as interim head coach throughout the 2026 season before deciding whether to remove the 'interim' title and make him the permanent head coach.

The takeaway

Ryan McElmurry's journey from standout player at Galesburg High School to interim head coach at Peoria High demonstrates the lasting impact that strong high school programs and coaches can have on developing young leaders. His commitment to the same values that made Reynold's teams at GHS successful suggests he will bring a similar approach to revitalizing the Peoria High basketball program.