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Koester, Macnider to lead Hoffman Estates girls teams

Mike Koester has been named girls basketball head coach and Kirk Macnider has been named girls track and field head coach at Hoffman Estates High School.

Koester replaces Mike Nocella in girls basketball, while Macnider follows Dan Anderson in girls track and field.

Koester has taught science and has been a varsity girls basketball assistant coach, along with sophomore girls basketball head coach, at McHenry High School for the past eight years. He also has served as an assistant varsity football coach at the school (2006-12), working on the defensive side of the ball.

Prior to coming to McHenry in 2006, Koester worked at Lincoln Community High School from 2004-2006, teaching honors science classes and coaching football and swimming.

"We're thrilled to have coach Koester taking over our girls basketball program," Hoffman Estates Principal Jim Britton said in a statement. "He relates well with student-athletes and parents. His enthusiasm and energy are unmatched, and his previous coaching experiences make him a perfect fit for this job."

"Mike is an extremely hard worker in the athletic arena and in the classroom," said Hoffman Estates athletic director Steve Lacni said in a statement. "His student-centered approach will pay dividends, and his knowledge and great depth of experience has already had a successful impact on the program."

Macnider, a Schaumburg graduate, has taught English at Hoffman Estates since beginning his teaching career in 2003.

He's been the Hawks' girls cross country head coach since 20004, and has also been an assistant girls track and field coach.

Under his guidance as a track assistant, all Hoffman Estates school records have been broken in the distance races since he entered the coaching ranks in 2004, and he has coached athletes at the state meet in nine of the past 10 years.

As head cross country coach, his 2007 girls cross country squad won the Mid-Suburban League championship, and his 2007 and 2011 teams were regional champions. He has coached IHSA team state qualifiers in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013, and more than 20 of his student-athletes have gone on to run at the collegiate level.

"Kirk is known for his commitment and enthusiasm not only for coaching and the sport, but for the kids as well," Britton said in a statement. "He has played a major role in the success of the cross country and track and field programs at Hoffman Estates High School. We're extremely happy with the direction of the programs, and Kirk is definitely the guy to keep them moving in the right direction."

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