Boys basketball: Petersen won't be back as South Elgin coach

South Elgin boys basketball coach Matt Petersen's teaching assignment and coaching assignment for the 2015-16 school year will not be renewed, South Elgin athletic director Jason Ward confirmed Tuesday.

Petersen, 33, was the second coach in the program's nine-year history, succeeding Chaz Taft in 2013-14. In two seasons his teams finished 29-35 and won a regional title.

"His teaching contract has not been renewed, therefore, his coaching contract will not be renewed, as per our teacher contract," Ward said. "That's really all I can say. He had a nice, successful run."

Reached for comment, Petersen said he was told before spring break his teaching contract would not be renewed, but said he was not aware until Tuesday he would not be retained as coach.

"It sounds like I won't be back next year in any capacity," Petersen said. "I wasn't prepared to not be back as coach. It's a shock. We had a great time together. I thought we did some good things. I was excited about the future of the South Elgin program. I'm pretty emotional right now."

Petersen helped guide the Storm to a deep postseason run in 2013-14. After entering the playoffs with a .500 record, No. 4 regional seed South Elgin defeated No. 5 Elgin before upsetting top seed Larkin, 71-70. They went on to defeat No. 3 St. Charles East 76-62 to claim the second regional title in the program's brief history.

South Elgin went on to defeat Jacobs in an Elgin sectional semifinal without the help of Petersen, who was suspended for the remainder of the postseason by the Illinois High School Association when it was learned the team had played too many regular-season games. The magical run to the Class 4A Sweet 16 ended with a 10-point loss to Rockford Auburn in the sectional final.

Beset by injuries to key players throughout the 2014-15 season, South Elgin finished 11-20. The Storm again entered the playoffs as a No. 4 regional seed. They won a playoff game against Elgin (69-53) before losing to No. 1 Larkin, 62-35.

"We were playing really good ball at the end of the year," Petersen said. "I said at the end of February we might run out of time with our entire same group to really make another postseason run. I thought we played well against Elgin and I thought we gave Larkin a battle for two and a half quarters. I was proud. I thought they did great.

"I think they're going to do really great in the future. Some kids got some great experience this year. They're going to be good next year. They're going to be real good. I'm happy for them. Hopefully, they make another run."

Ward said he'd like to have a new coach in place by early May with summer camps looming.

"We will look inside or outside of the building to find the best candidate who can come in and continue the success that has been building here," he said.