'That's Coach Bahnick to you'

You can't blame some of the basketball players at Vernon Hills for having a tough time keeping it formal with Tommy Bahnick.

Not so long ago, Bahnick was one of them.

Sometimes, he came to their homes after school or on the weekends and hung out in their family rooms to watch SportsCenter, play video games, you name it. He was being a typical teenager, in the presence of other teenagers.

That was less than two years ago.

Now, those same guys suddenly have to remember that not only is Bahnick no longer considered a peer, he also has a title - and they're supposed to use it.

"On the first day of practice, Tommy and I were setting some things up and one of our sophomores came walking through the gym and was like, 'Hey Tommy,' " Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty said. "And I was like, 'That's Coach Bahnick to you.' "

McCarty laughs as he recounts that story. He knows that the line will often be unintentionally blurred this season with Bahnick, who has returned to his alma mater in an official capacity - as head coach of the Vernon Hills Freshman A boys basketball team.

Bahnick, after all, is just 20 years old and still looks like he should be wearing a Vernon Hills uniform himself.

It can be helpful, yet also a bit strange at times, that he is on such close terms with his players, some of whom are the younger brothers of his closest high school friends and teammates, the guys he used to hang out with.

"It's definitely different," Bahnick, a 2007 graduate, said with a chuckle. "This isn't something I ever thought I'd be doing back when I was hanging out at their houses. I never would have guessed I'd be coaching my friends' younger brothers in two years."

But Bahnick, a four-year starter at Vernon Hills who is now a sophomore at the College of Lake County, always figured he'd be coaching at the high school level sooner or later. An opportunity just happened to come sooner and he jumped at it.

Bahnick coached the sixth grade Vernon Hills boys feeder team last season and had quite a bit of success.

When a spot within the high school program opened up, McCarty, who had had discussions with Bahnick in the past about his desire to coach at the high school level someday, knew immediately whom to target. He went straight to Bahnick, once his team captain.

"He's young, but I knew he would to a great job," McCarty said. "He's a very mature young man who is very ahead of the game in terms of being on top of things. And I don't know if I've ever coached anyone who loves the game more than him. He's such a positive influence to have in the program.

"He knows so many of our younger kids from knowing their families, from coaching feeder basketball, from helping me with some of my camps in the past. I can really tell that those kids enjoy having him as a coach."

The feeling is mutual.

Bahnick says he is loving his new job, which he fits around his own classes and a developing side business in which he gives private basketball lessons to young kids. He says he's planning on majoring in business at DePaul next year so that he can learn how to turn that side business into his career.

"I can use this as credibility and experience in the future for my business," Bahnick said of his new job. "But it's not just the experience. It's doing something I love, being a part of basketball still. Coaching keeps me in the game, and I also really like the idea of helping other people become better basketball players."

Bahnick is off to a great start. His team won its first game (against Ridgewood) and is now 4-4.

"I have a great group of guys and that helps," Bahnick said. "The other thing is that I feel really comfortable because I know the program and I know what to expect from the (other) coaches. Getting the hang of things here was just natural for me because I had been through it for four years."

Bahnick was brought up to the varsity early in his freshman year and eventually earned an occasional spot in the starting lineup. As a sophomore, he was a full-time starter, and by the time he graduated, his name was sprinkled throughout the program's record books.

Bahnick, a three-point specialist, left as Vernon Hills' career 3-point leader. In addition, he remains the only player in the school's nearly 10-year history to letter all four years.

Bahnick's best showings came in two of the most memorable games in school history _ an overtime win against Highland Park his junior year and a quadruple overtime victory over North Chicago the following season.

Against Highland Park, he hit the game-winning shot - a 3-pointer, no less - as the final buzzer sounded. And against North Chicago, he drained a game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds left to send the game into the fourth overtime session.

"I think the hardest part about coaching is sitting on the bench," Bahnick said. "I was never really on the bench (as a player). When things aren't going right, or we're having a little trouble, I feel myself getting a little antsy, like I want to go out there and do something. (Being so close to the game again) definitely gives me the itch to play."

That itch has gone unscratched, of course - even in practice. Bahnick says he would scrimmage with his players only if numbers were an issue and that hasn't happened yet.

However, Bahnick has jumped in on some shooting challenges - mostly of the 3-point and free throw variety.

"The guys think that by challenging me to those contests, they can maybe prove something," Bahnick said with a chuckle. "But they haven't been able to beat me yet. I can still shoot it a little bit."

Same game - just a (slightly) different name.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com