Hirsch takes over at College of Lake County
Chad Good, College of Lake County's athletics director, keeps a short list of coaching candidates for exactly this reason.
When the men's basketball coaching position opened suddenly earlier this month, Good quickly contacted Mike Hirsch. Good has been targeting Hirsch since Shawn Chism resigned after the 2005-06 season.
The timing wasn't right for Hirsch then, but it now.
Hirsch was hired as CLC's new coach and met with his team for the first time Friday. Hirsch can tell his players what it's like to compete in the NJCAA national tournament. When he coached Harper Community College in 1999, the Hawks placed third nationally, which is still the best finish in school history.
"I can't tell you how excited and grateful I am to be back at the college level," Hirsch said.
Hirsch is CLC's fourth head coach in as many years. Tom Shields resigned in August to become athletics director at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington, N.M.
"It was a pretty si gnificant opportunity for him and his family," Good said. "He said he had mixed emotions, but it was a (great opportunity) for him at this stage of his career."
Hirsch said his comfort level with Good played a significant role in him accepting the job.
Good said fans attending CLC games this year should expect to see a lot of scoring.
"I think we can score 90 to 100 points a game and be an offensive juggernaut," Good said.
Hirsch, 35, has experience at the NJCAA level. In 1999, he was the coach at Harper when the team placed third at the NJCAA national tournament. That is still the best finish in school history.
"The system is almost identical to what Mundelein (boys) coach Dick Knar runs," Hirsch said. "We were one of the top scoring teams in the nation at Harper, and I want us to put up 100 shots a game."
Lake County basketball fans will remember Hirsch using the same style of play when the Grayslake Central girls went downstate in 2004. After one more season at Grayslake Central, Hirsch's contract was not renewed. Hirsch filed a lawsuit claiming parents and others made false comments that triggered his being let go.
Hirsch spent one season at Zion-Benton as a varsity assistant to Don Kloth, and he coached a variety of levels the next two years at Mundelein.
"Working at Zion-Benton and Mundelein with some great people recharged my batteries," Hirsch said.
Joe Paul, who was Shields' assistant last year, will return in the same role. Don Johnson, a 7-foot former NBA player who assisted Hirsch at Harper, will be on the bench as well.
Hirsch said he will make a push for former Grayslake Central boys coach Tim Bowen to join the staff. In a controversial move this summer, the Grayslake school board did not renew Bowen's contract for this upcoming season.
"I love the way he teaches toughness and defense," Hirsch said. "It would be an honor to have him on my staff."