Former BG coach Dineen to take Stevenson job
A Hall of Fame coach is taking over the girls basketball program at Stevenson High School.
And he'll be only minutes away from where he served for 29 seasons as one of the most successful coaches in the state.
Former Buffalo Grove coach Tom Dineen has been named the head coach at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. Dineen takes over for Trish Betthauser, who stepped down to become the school's athletic director beginning in the 2010-11 school year for retiring John Martin.
"Obviously, I'm really excited," said Dineen, who retired and left coaching after the 2007-08 school year and spent the last 12 months teaching basketball at the Lake Barrington Field House. "I really missed it and I'm anxious to get back. Buffalo Grove and Stevenson has been a big community rivalry. Now I'm on the other end of it."
Dineen, a retired physical education teacher, said he could never have imagined coaching at Stevenson.
"I hadn't been in an interview in 34 years," he said. "It felt a little funny. I was a little nervous."
But the Stevenson administrators and Dineen felt it was a great fit - and Dineen can't wait to get started.
"I've got to get some new St. Patrick green in my wardrobe," said Dineen, who has been known for wearing some colorful sweaters on the sidelines. "Who would have thought this would have ever happened 20 or 30 years ago? It's a good situation for me now."
After his Buffalo Grove post was opened up when he retired in 2008, Dineen wanted to take a year off from coaching to see if he truly missed it.
"I did, and I figured if a situation came along that I liked I'd go after it," he said. "If not, I could have kept going with my instructional lessons. Obviously, this was a great opportunity for me."
Stevenson won the Class AA state titles under Frank Mattucci in 1995 and 1996.
At Buffalo Grove, Dineen played some memorable games against the Patriots.
Dineen led the Bison to the Class AA state title in 2000 and to third and fourth-place finishes in nine trips to the state finals.
His teams won 25 regionals, 11 sectional championships, nine Mid-Suburban League titles and 18 MSL divisional crowns.
"I'll be in a similar community," Dineen added.
"They play in a great new conference (North Suburban Lake). And I'm still in the same area. It's a lot of the same kids, same officials and same coaches. There are a lot of plusses."
Dineen said he has the support from his family and from the Stevenson family.
"Everyone has been very accommodating," Dineen said. "I really feel it is a good fit. When I walked out of my interview, I had a very good feeling about it."