Timothy's Powers opts for change
Timothy Christian's boys basketball team this season didn't approach the high-water marks of its 2006 and 2004 regional championship squads.
Yet Jeff Powers pulled off one of the greatest coaching jobs of his 11-year career at the Elmhurst high school.
Thus, Powers' resignation on Tuesday was a surprise.
"I think it's just time for me to find another opportunity, another challenge," he said Wednesday. "I don't think I'm done coaching. I just thought it was time for a change of scenery."
This season Powers molded a group of players that due to academic and disciplinary suspensions struggled to a 7-10 record through December.
He got them to jell into an exciting unit that went 10-3 down the stretch. The Trojans won five straight Private School League games to place second in the conference, then won the PSL Tournament before ending the season in a regional final.
"In the eight years I've been here, it was one of the best coaching performances in terms of bringing those kids along," said Timothy Christian athletic director Jim Woudstra, who added his surprise at Powers' decision.
Woudstra said he'd like to maintain "continuity" and has discussed the position with Powers' varsity assistant Jack LeGrand, sophomore coach Dick Zylstra and freshman coach Jim Boven.
A Naperville resident, Powers went 201-110 at Timothy Christian, winning two regional championships and four PSL titles.
The 29-2 squad of 2005-06 set a program victories mark.
Powers appreciated the "men of integrity" within the basketball program, and enjoyed "the journey" to building a respected program.
"I'm pretty fortunate that Timothy Christian even gave me a job 11 years ago," he said, "a guy with no (head coaching) experience and especially an Italian-Irish guy coming into a Dutch population."
As he gave to his players, they've given back.
"I feel pretty honored to be invited to as many weddings as I've been invited to, to be sent all the baby pictures," he said. "To be part of that, that's been a special gift."