214@100: Buffalo Grove girls win it all in 2000
The first girls basketball state championship in District 214 belongs to Buffalo Grove High School, part of a remarkable run under the watchful eye of Coach Tom Dineen.
Dineen coached the BGHS girls for 27 years, during which time the team went Downstate nine times. It all culminated in 2000, when Dineen and the Bison marched through the season with a 34-4 record. They won the Class AA state championship by beating Chicago Washington in overtime, at Illinois State's Redbird Arena.
That same year Dineen, known for his colorful sweaters (many of which he gave to his assistants at the end of his final season at BGHS) was named the National High School Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
He retired in 2008. "I have a lot of people to thank," he said at the time. "I've had tremendous players, very supportive parents and great support from family with my wife Chris and three kids (Jaime, Sean and Brad). They've been with me since day one. And I've had some very loyal assistant coaches."
Dineen went on to coach at Stevenson High School for six more seasons, until earlier this year.
His coaching record over 35 years is a remarkable 810-277.