A Coach Who Built More Than a Team
Jeff Oller grew up in the shadows of Lincoln High School, where he played under the legendary Neil Alexander before returning to the same halls as a teacher, coach and athletics director at St. Boniface in Edwardsville. In 2015 he took the helm of the Father McGivney Griffins girls basketball program, a team that would soon become a benchmark for small‑school athletics in Illinois.
The 2026 season marked a turning point. Oller’s balanced approach — emphasizing commitment, dedication and toughness — produced a 28‑7 record, a regional championship and the 2026 Telegraph Small‑Schools Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award. No player averaged more than ten points, yet the Griffins posted a 17‑2 stretch in January and February before falling to Pleasant Plains in the sectional.
Key contributors such as senior Zoe Oller, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, freshman Elle Willenborg, senior Alexa Jones and sophomore Layla Tobin helped the squad win its third regional title by defeating Hillsboro in a Class 2A regional. Eight Griffins played in at least thirty games, including all six seniors.
Beyond the hardwood, Oller’s influence reshaped the school’s identity. Enrollment rose from 19 students in 2012 to 125 in 2015, and the basketball program’s 201‑96 record with three regional championships and a sectional plaque illustrates sustained excellence. The team’s recent promotion to Class 2A reflects Oller’s long‑term vision.
Looking Ahead
Oller now prepares the Griffins for the next level, aiming to sustain seven consecutive 20‑win seasons while fostering a supportive community that extends to his family — wife Danielle, son Archie and daughter Danielle — who live in Glen Carbon. The program’s growth mirrors the school’s broader resurgence, positioning McGivney as a standard‑bearer for small‑school sports across the region.