Clodi to coach at Harvest Christian
Former St. Charles East boys basketball coach Brian Clodi got back in the game Saturday when he formally accepted the same position at Harvest Christian Academy in Elgin.
Clodi, 41, was not retained by St. Charles East last spring due to a controversial unfavorable review after a 14-14 season. He was 96-128 overall in eight years with the Saints, his first head coaching job.
Clodi had planned as recently as last Monday to sit out the upcoming season. The St. Charles resident had already turned down an offer to become an assistant coach under Tom Kleinschmidt at York due to family considerations.
However, he received a call out of the blue this week from David Lockwood, the athletic director of Harvest Christian Academy, a Class 1A private school located on Randall Road, three miles south of I-90. Budding Harvest Christian is a first-year IHSA athletic program. Its girls volleyball team advanced to the Elite Eight this fall.
Lockwood already had a boys basketball coach in place, William Hacker, but Hacker was recently named to a new position within the school’s ministry, which became his first priority. Thus, Lockwood called Clodi on the recommendation of a mutual friend.
Clodi worked with the Harvest Christian players informally as a consultant throughout the week. He said he gained an appreciation for the players, the sparkling new on-campus facilities and the school’s overall Christian mission. He was offered the coaching position and accepted Saturday.
“It’s an exciting time,” Clodi said. “It was going to be a long year not being on the sideline, but this is not about me. I love teaching the game, and I just fell in love with the 12 guys I got to work with this week. They’re raw and they’re eager and they want to be coached. They work their butts off.
“Obviously, they’re not as talented as some of the teams I’ve coached before, but they have a great work ethic and they believe. Each day I worked with them I felt good about what we accomplished. I felt like if I left them now, I’d be letting them down. I know I can do great things with them, regardless of wins and losses. It’s just a great fit.”
Clodi’s termination as St. Charles East coach was criticized by many, including the school’s basketball boosters, who released a statement condemning it. Lockwood said he had no reservations about making the hire.
“I’m not a look back guy; I look forward,” Lockwood said. “I don’t know any reason he should have been fired at St. Charles East, frankly. Harvest Christian Academy is getting a top-notch basketball coach and a great teacher of young men. From a basketball standpoint, he’s as solid as they come. He knows how to build young men through the sport, and that’s what our sports programs here are all about.
“In my opinion, St. Charles East’s loss is our gain.”
Clodi’s first team faces an uphill challenge. A starting five consisting of one senior, one junior and three sophomores will play an independent schedule, one that includes multiple dates against Class 2A schools. The Lions will join the Northeast Athletic Conference in 2012-13.
Harvest Christian Academy opens its season Monday against Byron at the Oregon Thanksgiving Tournament at 5:45 p.m..
“We could probably use another month to get ready for that one, but I wouldn’t judge anything we do here on the result of one game,” Clodi said. “We’re going to build a program here.
“For now, it’s just great to be around the guys, to be in a gym, to be setting goals for a team to work toward. It’s great to be back doing something I love to do.”