Loogootee coaching legend Leo Costello has been named to the 2026 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Men’s Induction Class, joining 17 other honorees who will be celebrated on March 18, 2026. Costello will also receive the 2026 Centennial Award, honoring individuals who graduated more than 100 years ago and left a lasting impact on Indiana basketball. A 1923 graduate of Lynnville High School, Costello starred as a four-year starter before playing basketball and baseball at DePauw University. He later coached Loogootee for 21 seasons, leading the Lions to a 263–202 record and five sectional titles. Among his players was Jack Butcher, who went on to become one of Indiana’s winningest coaches. Costello also served as Loogootee’s principal and superintendent, coached multiple sports, and spent nine years on the IHSAA Board of Control. Loogootee’s softball field still bears his name. He died in 1961 at age 56, but his influence continues to shape the school’s athletic and academic traditions.
