Milan boys basketball had been without a sectional championship for 14 years but that all changed when head coach Randy Combs brought to the forefront an exceptional group of young men on the basketball court, one of which was Matt Callen.

 

A three-time All-ORVC selection, Callen’s prowess on offense made Milan one of the state’s top teams in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. A 2000 graduate, Callen helped lead the black and gold to a 1999 Class A sectional championship over Jac-Cen-Del, the same sectional in which he was named MVP of the tournament, and followed it up with a drubbing of Southwestern (Shelby) to win the program’s first regional crown since 1973. Despite the Indians falling by only four points in the semifinal of the semi-state to Tecumseh, Callen and company’s return for a senior year in 2000 made for high hopes for the tribe.

 

After a magical 1999 season that saw all the accolades even with a final record of12-13, Milan was ranked as high as No. 2 in Class A in 2000 en route to an ORVC championship but an upset loss in the sectional to rival Jac-Cen-Del extinguished those high hopes for a state title. However, what a career it would be for Callen as he made his exit from the program after a 19-3 senior season. Callen finished his time in Milan ranked first on the career assists list with 319, fifth on the all-time scoring list with 1,108points and was a First Team Academic All-State selection while being named a Top 100player in the state in 2000.

 

Callen in the classroom served as Milan’s valedictorian in 2000 and that honor would follow him to Franklin College where he would be class valedictorian in 2004. He now resides in the Indianapolis area and maintains a successful career in business and software.