Haugens steps down at Hampshire
Hampshire girls basketball coach Ed Haugens is stepping down after three years at the helm of the Whip-Purs' program.
“Working at Hampshire has been a pleasure as has working for (principal) Chuck Bumbales and (athletic director) Dave Hicks,” said Haugens, who will continue to teach at Hampshire. I have no desire to go anywhere else. Hampshire is a great place to work. Unfortunately, right now, I cannont dedicate myself to all the duties and responsibilities I feel are required with running a program in a manner I feel it needs to be run. Because of this I feel it's in the best interests of the program to step down.”
Haugens cited family as the main reason he's leaving coaching after 10 years.
“The No. 1 reason is family,” said Haugens, who is married to former Dundee-Crown standout Melissa Tarrant. The couple has a 2-year old daughter, Mia. “It has nothing to do with wins and losses. I get home and I feel I'm missing things and I don't want to miss those things, The amount of time and the long drives take a toll. I love these kids and I enjoy working with these kids but my top priority has to be my own kid.”
Haugens coached for seven seasons at Jacobs, taking the Golden Eagles to the Class AA Elite Eight in 2004. He won three regional titles and one sectional at Jacobs and his 2008-09 team tied with Cary-Grove for the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship. Haugens was 55-35 at Hampshire with regional titles in 2011 and 2012. His 10-year coaching record was 205-100. His Hampshire team this season was 11-17. The Whip-Purs lost to Burlington Central 36-26 in the Class 3A regional semifinals on Wednesday.
“We will miss Ed's leadership and enthusiasm for the game,” Bumbales said in a statement issued Friday. “I knew Ed his first year of coaching when he was an assistant girls coach at Jacobs. He actually coached my oldest daughter. I have always admired Ed's passion and commitment to his school and program.”
Hampshire had two freshmen and a sophomore play significant minutes this season and after an 0-9 start, the Whip-Purs came back to go 11-8 the rest of the season and finish in the middle of the pack in the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division,
“Coach Haugens' program has won two regionals and a conference title during his three seasons at Hampshire,” Hicks said. “I enjoyed working with him and I know he is leaving the program with a strong nucleus for the next coach.”
“I would also like to thank my assistant coach, Andrew Lindley, for all the time and energy he has put in with me,” Haugens said.
The statement issued by the high school said the position will be posted in early March with the hope being to have a new coach in place for summer camps and leagues.