Dear Coach: A Lorene Ramsey Tribune
Eleuria Starfish
April 19, 2023
The “Dear Coach” documentary premiered this past Sunday at the Illinois Central College (ICC) Performing Arts Center. The crowd featured ICC alumni who played for Lorene Ramsey and other Peoria residents. Ramsey was also in attendance at the premiere.
“I appreciate all of the people I talked to today, it’s great to see friends and players that I have not seen for years and it has been such a beautiful day for me, and I can thank Melissa and Connor for that,” Ramsey said.
The inspiration for the documentary came from Melissa Gordon, a former women’s basketball player from ICC’s class of 2001. According to Gordon, she felt compelled to preserve Ramsey’s legacy and share her remarkable story with the world.
To make this idea a reality, Gordon partnered with Connor Parkhurst from Hoop House Creative, based in Peoria. Together, they conducted interviews with over 40 people, including former players, colleagues, local sports journalists, teammates, and of course, Ramsey herself, to create a comprehensive and captivating portrayal of Coach Ramsey.
“Dear Coach” is an inspiring documentary that tells the story of Ramsey, a trailblazing ICC coach who paved the way for women in sports. The film begins with Ramsey in her gym, reflecting on her coaching career and her impact on her players.
Ramsey grew up in Missouri with parents who only had grade school degrees, but they instilled in her the belief that she could do anything she set her mind to. Her natural talent as a pitcher led her to try out for a women’s baseball team in St. Louis, MO., where she quickly became an ace pitcher. From there, she took a job at Caterpillar and devoted herself to playing for the Pekin Lettes, a women’s softball team that still holds the Ramsey-era record for attendance at 128,000.
The film highlights Ramsey’s determination and resourcefulness in building a successful program without the luxury of a gym. She would scope out anyone for a team, and even organized swimming at the YWCA. Her full-court press was “lethal,” and her teams always played with heart and grit.
Ramsey’s impact on women’s sports is immeasurable. She predates Title IX, and her influence on her players and peers was profound. As one fellow Pekin Lettes player noted, “We win more games when we get together and reminisce than we actually did.” Ramsey’s legacy is felt beyond the court, as one player, Tonya Gilles Koch, would have never received an entire ride if it wasn’t for Title IX being passed because of Ramsey.
The film concludes with women giving their “Dear Coach Letters” to Ramsey, thanking her for her guidance and support. Ramsey notes that she has no secret to remembering scores or players – that was her life. Ramsey also states in the film that even when teams didn’t make it to a championship her girls were still winners because she never had a losing season. The standing ovation at the film’s end is a testament to Ramsey’s impact on women’s sports and the lives of the women she coached. “Dear Coach” is a must-see for anyone who loves sports and believes in the power of determination and grit.