Raymond returns as St. Viator's girls basketball coach
Jason Raymond's commute this week to his new employer meant he had little time to jam in his car.
"Two 'Smashing Pumpkins' songs away," Raymond, who grew up in Mt. Prospect and lives in Mt. Prospect, said of how long it took him to drive to St. Viator in Arlington Heights.
The real sweet music for rock-fan Raymond is that he's headed back to his high school alma mater. A 1992 graduate of St. Viator, he's leaving Carmel Catholic, where he's been the head softball coach since 2003, to become the Lions' new girls basketball coach.
"I'm back at Viator - and I'm excited to get back to basketball," Raymond said.
Carmel named Shane Schueneman as Raymond's replacement. Schueneman assisted Raymond for the past eight seasons, after serving as the head softball coach at Waukegan from 2002-2007.
Both Raymond and his wife, Sara, teach at Highland Middle School in Libertyville, where he will remain a physical education teacher. A self-described "basketball junkie," he played varsity ball for coach Joe Majkowski at St. Viator.
"Something I've always loved was being a part of basketball and coaching basketball," Raymond said Thursday night, as he watched the NBA Draft.
Carmel's softball team won a school-record 30 games this past season and captured its fourth regional championship under Raymond. His 2007 Corsairs won a sectional title, as well. While at Carmel, he also coached in the boys basketball program from 2001-07 under fellow St. Viator graduate Joe Molloy and Jon Baffico. Raymond got his coaching career started at St. Viator as an under-level boys basketball coach following his graduation from Western Illinois University.
When he learned he got the head girls job at St. Viator, he says he had mixed emotions and even his wife noticed that he didn't seem overly excited. That's because he has only fond memories of his Carmel experience.
"Just being a part of that school has been amazing," Raymond said. "The players have been amazing."
Raymond replaces Paul Missavage, who coached St. Viator to a 10-19 record in his only season. Missavage resigned recently to return to coach in Luxembourg, where he is taking over the men's and women's teams for the Luxembourg Basketball Club Nitia Lucez.
Raymond becomes the Lions' fourth head coach in the last five years. He plans on coaching the team for a long time.
"The challenge of the job really appealed to me," Raymond said. "I want to stabilize the program."
"He has shown the ability to lead women athletes in both softball and basketball," athletic director Martin Jennings said on St. Viator's website. "His desire to stabilize the girls program and focus on team unity and development made him the perfect fit for St. Viator."
Carmel's Giesey resigns: Dann Giesey has resigned as Carmel's head baseball coach after three years for family reasons, Carmel announced. He has been reassigned to be new head softball coach Shane Schueneman's varsity assistant. Geisey's daughter, Jen, is an incoming junior at Carmel and recently committed to play softball at Winona State University.
Carmel is expected announce a new head baseball coach next week.
Football officials training: Classes are forming to fill a shortage in officials for high school football games. There are no prerequisites for the free training being offered, which will lead to an IHSA official's license and the ability to work games in the upcoming season. The training covers rules interpretation, penalty enforcement and positioning. The 8-week course of training began Tuesday, June 23 and meets from 7 to 9 p.m.; classes are held at Grayslake Central High School, Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights, Lisle High School and Bremen High School.
For more information and to register, visit iaco-official.org.