Elgin relieves coach of duties

Elgin varsity boys basketball coach Rob Brault was relieved of his coaching duties Wednesday for undisclosed reasons.

"I can confirm that Elgin's head basketball coach is not currently serving as the basketball coach," said Tony Sanders, Chief Communications Officer for Community Unit School District U-46. "Unfortunately, I cannot give any details because state law limits the amount you can provide concerning personnel decisions.

"But for the time being he is not the head coach of Elgin basketball."

Sanders said Brault has not been relieved of his teaching duties in Elgin High's social studies department.

The Elgin varsity was taking part in its pre-practice shoot-around Wednesday after school when athletic director Art Rohlman gathered the varsity and informed them Brault would no longer be their coach.

Brault last coached the team at Monday's practice. He did not teach or coach practice Tuesday, multiple Elgin High players said.

Rohlman declined to comment on the decision involving Brault, also citing personnel confidentiality rules.

However, Rohlman did confirm that Mike Sitter, the school's sophomore coach, will take over as interim varsity head coach.

Sitter is an Elgin graduate who served as a ballboy for legendary Elgin coach Bill Chesbrough in 1972.

Sitter's elevation to Elgin High's top job is similar in some respects to his predecessor's. Brault was Elgin High's sophomore coach in 2002 when he was named interim head coach in the wake of Dave Gilliland's sudden resignation in December.

"The program is for the kids," Sitter said when reached for comment. "Whether I'm the coach or Rob's the coach, we're going to run the same offense and run the same things to win basketball games this year."

Elgin is scheduled to open the season Monday against Buffalo Grove at the Bison Thanksgiving Tournament. With four starters returning from last season's 17-12 team, the Maroons are expected to challenge for their first Upstate Eight Conference title since 1998.

"I feel comfortable with (coach Sitter), but it's sad that we're losing coach Brault," Elgin senior D'Angelo Stewart said. "We'll have to grow up from this. We're tough. We're still going to play basketball and do what we do."