Armato seeks ACC girls basketball coach who will stick around

Mike Armato wants to make a difference at Aurora Central Catholic.

The first-year athletic director, who was hired last July, wants consistency when it comes time to varsity coaches. His ideal varsity coach is one who plans on staying with the program for a long time. He wants that coach to build a strong foundation and set a good example for the kids.

Football and boys basketball are the top two sports at ACC. Armato said girls basketball is likely next in line. Here's the problem -- there has been three different varsity girls basketball coaches in as many years.

Armato wants to change that. He wants the next coach to be in it for the long run.

"We need to make sure this is long term, not a quick fix," Armato said.

Dan Regnier was with the program for a few years until the 2006-07 season, when Bill Risatti took over.

A year later, Risatti resigned.

After Risatti was Fay Griffin, who was the first female girls basketball coach at ACC. She was hired for the 2007-08 season at the end of the school year last year by former AD Scott Lodico.

After this season ended, Griffin resigned.

At the start of both seasons, Risatti and Griffin were optimistic and positive. Both had a lot of energy and hope for the Chargers.

Both coaches also only won 1 game each season.

"I'm sure they both had good intentions, but for whatever reason, it didn't work out," Armato said. "There probably was no one specific problem."

This time around, Armato is in charge of hiring the next girls basketball coach at ACC. In the job description, it states the following: "Responsible for (the) girls high school program. Working directly with ninth-12th graders to develop and refine basic and advanced athletic skills. Directly responsible for the high school varsity program as well as supervision of the sophomore and freshmen girls basketball programs. Responsible for inventory of all equipment/uniforms within the girls high school program."

Required qualifications include a minimum of three years high school age coaching experience, Illinois teacher or ASEP certification and the "desire to model the teachings of ACC students both on an off the court."

Preferred qualifications also include someone who has played beyond the high school level.

"I want someone who has paid their dues as a head JV coach or an assistant coach," Armato said. "Maybe someone who is new at the varsity level, but not new to coaching."

Armato wants this coach hired by the end of April. No official interviews have been conducted yet, but he knows he is going to have to go through two rounds of interviews before someone is hired.

"We aren't going to hire the first person who walks in," he said. "We need to make sure we make the right decision."

If anyone is interested in becoming ACC's next girls varsity coach, send a resume to Armato, athletic director at Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Dr., Aurora, IL, 60504. You can call him at (630) 907-0095 or fax at (630) 907-1076.