Dineen finding finish emotional

A Class AA state championship.

Eight trips to the state finals.

Ten sectional crowns.

Twenty five regional titles.

Seventeen Mid-Suburban League division titles.

Nine MSL titles and 674 career wins.

The 29-year career of Buffalo Grove girls basketball coach Tom Dineen has been quite impressive, to say the least.

Apparently, though, the career of the Hall of Famer will be over at Buffalo Grove after its last game this season.

Dineen, who was honored before Thursday's Class 4A regional championship game at BG, is retiring from teaching after the school year.

District 214 policy states that upon retirement, the coaching position must be made available to qualified applicants.

Mark Schaetzlein, Buffalo Grove's director of student activities, said he would almost guarantee a new coach will be hired by the end of the school year.

"Change is often scary," he said. "We are committed to finding a new coach. It's difficult for some people to accept. The program will take a step back. Tom has taken it to great heights. But all great things come to an end.

"It is just the philosophy of the board and district that we must look for a new person with Tom's ensuing retirement. We know Tom would like to come back, but in all likelihood we'll probably have a new person."

Dineen began the job in 1979 and his first team advanced to the Elite Eight.

Since then, he has kept Buffalo Grove among the elite programs in the state. His daughter Jaime, now living in California, was an all-area guard for the 1998 team that advanced to the Elite Eight.

"I still feel young enough and enthusiastic enough that I would like to continue coaching," Dineen said. "But on two occasions meeting with the administration they have made it pretty clear they don't want me at Buffalo Grove and I would not want to be somewhere where I am not wanted.

"Things happen for a reason. So if it's not going to happen at Buffalo Grove, we'll see what happens."

Maine West Hall of Fame girls basketball coach Derril Kipp, who also has 673 career triumphs, is the first coach at his school to be retired but still direct a varsity sport.

"It's too bad the board does not recognize that it can work," Kipp said. "Tom has helped a lot of kids' futures, and he would continue to do so if he were still the coach. You don't really need to be in the building when you've done it as long as he has."

Dineen appreciates all those who have supported him.

"I have a lot of people to thank," he said. "I've had tremendous players, very supportive parents and great support from family with my wife Chris and three kids (Jaime, Sean and Brad). They've been with me since day one. And I've had some very loyal assistant coaches."

Chris Dineen would love to see her husband's career continue at Buffalo Grove.

"I know how much he enjoys the teaching aspect of it," she said. "The reason he decided to pursue teaching and coaching is because he loved sports so much.

"He wants to try and get his athletes to be as enthusiastic, have fun and be as competitive as he is."

Chris says her husband's career has flown by.

"So it is bittersweet," she added. "Over the years we have witnessed these young ladies becoming successful, independent young women. We are very proud of each and every one of them.

"Our family has been so fortunate to not only have become close friends with these young people, but we've forged friendships with their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. We will miss this connection in our life."

Chris hopes Tom can continue his career elsewhere, if necessary.

"I feel he has been an integral role model in many of these young ladies lives," she said. " I think it is a shame to let him go. I feel that good things happen to good people, and if one door closes, I hope another will open.

"He really enjoys coaching and teaching and the camaraderie with the players and students. He has many unforgettable friendships and memories at Buffalo Grove, and he has been fortunate to have had a job that he's loved for 33 years."

Tom Dineen can't think of a better group of players to close out his BG career.

"With the careers they've had, this is a nice way to go out," he said of the senior group that includes three future Division I players in Maggie and Allison Mocchi (Northwestern) and Ellen Ayoub (Loyola).

"It's been fun. I know I am going to miss it. I've enjoyed the relationships with the kids, press and officials. My job has been enjoyable. It's nine months a year and has been a big part of my life for 29 years. It's not easy to walk away."

Schaetzlein said he plans to post the job in early March and hopes to name the new coach by the end of April.

"If they have someone they are grooming, I wish they'd let me know," Dineen said. "I understand what our contract says. But precedent has been set in the district both administratively and co-curricularly to retain qualified people.

"I think I have been good for the kids and the program, and I want to keep doing it. But the administration and times have changed. If this is the direction they want to go, so be it.

"It's been a great run and I think our 2000 team took the program to a whole new level. Now, this senior class has gotten the program to as high a level as you can get in girls basketball."

Dineen says he has no personal agendas in his desire to remain in charge of the program.

"None, other than I enjoy it," he said. "It will hit me when I've had enough. I would let them know. I'll be fair and honest.

"I can see if they want to reward someone and give them the job. But it doesn't appear they have anyone waiting in the wings for the position." A position that has been run by one of the state's best of all time.