A state qualifier and school record setter during his time at Salem Community High School, 1977 graduate Doug Hargis has continued that athletic success as a coach at the junior high level.

Hargis carried a heavy athletic workload during his high school days as he participated in baseball, cross country, football, track and basketball. His biggest athletic success came in track where he was a member of Salem’s 4X800 relay team that qualified for state during his 1976 junior season. As a senior in 1977, he qualified for state as an individual in the 880-yard run.

Hargis set the school record in the 880-yard run, now 800 meters, during his senior season. That record held for 22 years until 1999. He was also a member of the 4X800 relay team that established a school record in 1977. That mark would hold for 30 years until it was broken in 2007. He received Salem’s Best Runner Award for the 1977 season.

As a basketball player Hargis earned Salem’s Free Throw Award, Defense Award and team Most Valuable Player Award during his senior season of 1976-77. He took those skills on the hardwood to Kaskaskia College where he played the 1977-78 season for the Blue Devils. Hargis completed his education at Eastern Illinois University.

Upon graduation from college Hargis landed at Centralia Junior High School where at the time of his induction has spent the last 36 years. During that time he has compiled a record of 386-136 record as the school’s boys’ basketball coach. His teams won Class L state championships in 2002, 2005 and 2010. Hargis has also served as cross country and track coach at the school. Also at the time of his induction he was serving as a sixth grade health and physical education instructor at Centralia Junior High School as well as the school’s Athletic Director.

Doug Hargis is the son of SCHS Sports Hall of Famer J.D. Hargis, who was inducted as an individual in 2008.