Lake Park's Allen resigns

Citing family commitments, Cray Allen has resigned his position as Lake Park head varsity boys basketball coach.

Allen tendered his official letter of resignation Tuesday. Also the Lancers' head softball coach, on Saturday he said he plans to resign that job as well: "It's a done deal."

Tom Bergen, a former Lancers head coach who was the boys sophomore basketball coach, led the varsity its last two games and will do so through this season's conclusion. The Lancers play Bartlett in a Class 4A playoff game Monday at Glenbard West.

Allen is in his fifth year as a coach and a teacher of engineering, architecture and computer-animated drafting at the Roselle high school. His wife, Lisa, is general manager of a restaurant, and their 8-month-old daughter, Taylor Reese, has been ill with a respiratory problem. The combination was too much, Allen admitted.

"It was a lot tougher than we thought it was going to be," he said. "... We've just been kind of struggling with it for some time now. It's the best thing for me and my sanity, and my family and my little daughter."

Allen took over the boys basketball program when former coach Dan Batka departed following the 2006-07 season to spend more time with his family.

While Lake Park's boys basketball team struggled to records of 8-19 and 4-22 the past two seasons, Allen's softball teams succeeded wildly. In his four seasons the Lancers won four regional titles, three supersectionals, took fourth in AA in 2005 and third in Class 4A in 2008.

"I've enjoyed my time coaching basketball and softball," he said. "The hours were overwhelming, ask any coach that. Sometimes you've got to step away, especially with a newborn baby. We'll just take a step back and see where we go from there."