Hawrysko resigns at Barrington

Taking over a Barrington baseball program which was envied by many people throughout the state could have been considered an unenviable position for some coaches.

But Jim Hawrysko took it and ran it for 14 years before deciding to step down from the position Friday. Hawrysko will remain as a dean of students at Barrington and said in a news release he would like to remain involved as an underclass coach.

“After 14 years it’s time for me to make a change,” Hawrysko said. “This is a good point for the program to transition to new leadership. The underclass teams had great years and the future is bright, so the next varsity coach will inherit some very talented players.”

Hawrysko came in after 14 years at Northeastern Illinois University and inherited a program which won 539 games, a state title and three other state trophies in 22 years under Kirby Smith. Barrington athletic director Mike Obsuszt compared it to Gene Bartow replacing John Wooden with UCLA basketball and Dan Devine replacing Ara Parseghian in Notre Dame football.

Hawrysko went 284-224 with five regional titles, two Mid-Suburban League titles and a third-place state finish with a 2005 team that won a school-record 35 games.

“Jim not only rose to the challenge, he excelled and did a terrific job of continuing the winning tradition parents and fans associate with Barrington baseball,” said Obsuszt, who hopes to have a replacement by the fall.

“Baseball is only a small part of what I’ve done at the high school,” Hawrysko said. “I’ve probably worked with at least 350 students in the 14 years I’ve been here and they are all very special to me.”