W. Chicago, Naperville N. find new coaches
A couple of new faces are coming to DuPage Valley Conference.
Naperville North and West Chicago both announced the hiring of varsity boys basketball coaches on Tuesday, filling the open spots from outside their respective programs.
Jeff Powers, the longtime coach of Timothy Christian's successful program, takes the helm at Naperville North. He'll replace hall of fame coach Mark Lindo, who resigned in March.
West Chicago turned to one of its own in 1993 graduate Kevin Baldus. An 11-year coach at nearly every high school level, Baldus returns home after coaching stints at Willowbrook and Glenbard West. He'll take the reins from Kevin Gimre, who also resigned in March.
"It's a good day to be a Huskie," Powers said. "When I applied at Naperville North I thought about what a great job it'd be. Coaching at a big program like this has been one of my goals."
Powers, who will teach in the physical education department, posted a 201-110 record in 11 seasons with the Trojans.
His teams compiled four 20-win seasons, won four Private School League titles and two Class A regional titles. The Trojans advanced to the sectional final in 2006 before losing to North Lawndale and finishing with a 29-2 record.
After resigning the Trojans' head coaching position following the 2008 campaign, last season Powers was a varsity assistant at York.
Powers inherits a team filled with talent. Naperville North, which last season was 12-15 overall and 5-9 in the DVC, returns three starters in Joe McNicholas, Matt Hasse and James O'Shaughnessy. Led by varsity call-ups Matt LaCosse and Jovonn Griffin, the Huskies won the DVC title at the sophomore level.
"I was very blessed that Timothy Christian gave me the opportunity to coach," Powers said. "Now I feel blessed to have this opportunity."
Baldus always carried the goal of becoming a varsity head coach. The dream, however, was a return to West Chicago. A three-year varsity player for the Wildcats, Baldus played at North Central College before coaching at Glenbard West for seven years and at Willowbrook the last four.
He's been a freshman A, freshman B, sophomore and varsity assistant coach, giving him every angle in how to run a program.
"I got my feet wet at all levels, which I think will help me," said Baldus, who will teach in the special education department. "I really enjoyed my years at West Chicago. It's great to be coming back."
Like Naperville North, West Chicago returns a bunch of talent next season. All-Area center Tyler Griffith, guard Chad Driscoll, forward Charles Jacques and five other juniors who received significant playing time will return to a team that went 8-19.
"Every time we walk on the floor we're going to put the best product on the court that we can," Baldus said. "We want to get the program playing at a consistently high level."