Yanule steps down as Hoffman Estates coach

Hoffman Estates boys basketball coach Luke Yanule made the difficult choice.

Yanule, who has been the head coach of the Hawks since 2011, resigned Wednesday. Yanule said that the reason for the resignation was to take care of his elderly father.

"It is better that someone takes this and works with it," Yanule said. "I am walking away from a couple of good years and I think we will be pretty good. But instead of being selfish, I think it is important to do the right thing."

Yanule's mother passed away last December and his father Bob, who is 84, is disabled. With Yanule's mother, who was a registered nurse, now deceased, it was difficult for Yanule and his brother to ensure that their father had the proper care.

"My dad lived in the city and my brother, who has two small children, lives over an hour away," Yanule said. "It has kind of fallen on me and that is fine. I owe my dad my life."

Yanule said that this past shortened season helped him with his decision.

"Throughout the truncated season, it just became too much," Yanule said. "Looking at it, I just can't give the program the time and the dedication that it will require for us to be competitive. I have always told my kids that you have to be committed and I don't want to be a hypocrite."

Yanule is moving his father in with him in a house that he purchased.

"I am getting settled now," Yanule said. "And I am going to move him in with me in May and we are going to start a new chapter."

Yanule was 81-145 in the 10 years he was at the helm. His team was 19-9 in the 2013-14 season and in 2015-16 won the school's first regional title in 10 seasons.

Yanule said his players and administrators were shocked, but very understanding when he told them.

"There were a little stunned and some faces dropped," Yanule said. "But they were all understanding."