La Crosse Central’s Fergot named head of WBCA

Longtime La Crosse Central boys' basketball coach Todd Fergot will serve as the next executive director of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.

The WBCA Executive Board announced the hiring of Fergot today in a press release.

A proponent of expanding the WIAA State Tournament from its current 4-4-4-4-4 format to an expanded 8-8-8-8-8 setup and also a strong advocate for adopting a shot clock into regular-season and post-season play, Fergot replaces another former La Crosse Central coach, Ken Barrett, as the WBCA's new executive director, a position that carries with it a five-year time period. Barrett served as interim executive director this past year, replacing former Cuba City coach Jerry Petitgoue, who had been the WBCA executive director for many years prior to his passing last June.

"I am extremely honored to be chosen as the next WBCA executive director," Fergot said in a press release from the WBCA. "I look forward to continuing on the path coach Petitigoue set for our association so many years ago. As we all know, coach Petitgoue was an amazing man, both on and off the court, and with Joan (Petitgoue) at his side every step of the way, they were able to take Wisconsin basketball to new heights that were previously never imagined. Together, it is now our responsibility to carry this vision forward and continue to grow this great game that we so dearly love."

In addition to expanding the state tournament and installing the shot clock, Fergot also figures to address head-on the dwindling numbers in girls' basketball across the state. Like many other states, Wisconsin has seen a sharp decline in the number of girls taking part in basketball over the last decade.

An Edgar native who began his coaching career with three years at St. Croix Falls, Fergot has spent the past 22 seasons at La Crosse Central, compiling a 393-141 record and guiding the Riverhawks to six appearances in the WIAA State Tournament, capped by a Division 2 state title in 2022. A member of the WIAA Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee, Fergot has been a member of the WBCA for more than 25 years, including the last three as a member of the executive board.

The WBCA is comprised of over 4,900 members who coach at the youth, high school or collegiate level as well as referees and friends of the game.  Included in the WBCA activities are four banquets:  Hall of Fame, All-State/Academic All-State, Boys' All-Star and Girls' All-Star, Fall Coaches Clinic. The feature event of the WBCA is the running of the boys' and girls' high school all-star games with proceeds going to five charities:  Garding Against Cancer, The MACC Fund, Ronald McDonald House, Camp Waubeek  (Easter Seals) and Hometown Heroes.