Moe takes lead role at Grayslake Central

There are certain authority figures from his years in school that Brian Moe remembers more than others.

Most of them were coaches. Most of them he considered mentors.

"My high school coach at Glenbrook South, Rob Judson, and my college coach at Augustana, Steve Yount, those were really important people in my life, really great mentors," the 6-foot-6 Moe said of his basketball coaches from the late 1980s and early 1990s. "There was also Dean Torciello at Glenbrook South. He actually got me to play football my senior year.

"Those guys helped me a lot. I want to make sure all the students at our school can have great mentors like that in their lives through coaching."

At Grayslake Central, Moe has tried his best to be a mentor to the boys on the varsity basketball team. For the last six years, he's been the head coach.

Now, he's looking to make sure that every athlete in every sport at the school finds a connection with a coach. On Thursday of last week, Moe was named Grayslake Central's new athletic director, replacing Steve Gertz, who left last month for Dundee-Crown. Moe is intent on making mentorship a priority within his department.

"I really want to make sure our coaches are getting it right and really getting to know our athletes and making that connection," Moe said. "Sometimes, sports is the only thing that motivates a kid at school. Sometimes, it's what gets a kid to school. I want to make sure the athletes have good mentors in their coaches."

As for Moe's coaching days, they are over for now. He stepped down as boys basketball coach with a career record of 101-76 and four Fox Valley Conference Fox Division titles. He will take over his new job on a full-time basis at the end of the school year. He will also leave behind his current duties as a guidance counselor at the school.

Meanwhile, he will spearhead the search for his replacement as boys basketball coach. Applications are currently being accepted.

"That was a really tough part of this, knowing that I wouldn't have that time with my team and the players, anymore, especially the guys who will be seniors next year," Moe said of relinquishing his coaching duties. "When I became head coach, next year's seniors were in like fifth grade. I've followed them all the way through, I've watched their feeder games. Guys like Joey Mudd, David Llorens, Tommy Zygmunt, Michael Benko and (sophomores) Sam Ruhlmann and Jack Beckman. I've watched them (grow up).

"Joey Mudd, in particular. I bet I've seen him play more basketball than I've seen Coby play."

Coby Moe is the 13-year-old son of Brian Moe. Moe assumed until just recently that he would soon get the opportunity to coach his son. He was also hoping that his younger son, 11-year-old Caden, a swimmer, might also take up basketball in high school so that he could coach him, too.

"That was a really tough part of the decision, too," Moe said. "When I told Coby about what was going on, he was disappointed. But I'm hoping I'll actually be able to see more of his games this way, especially early in his career. As a varsity coach, you're not able to watch many of the underlevel games."

As a varsity coach, there are also a lot of nights away from home scouting, and a lot of missed family time around holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Moe says he probably won't miss that much.

"I am going to miss the players a lot, though," Moe said. "All the players we've had come through have been great kids. For six years, I've never dreaded going to a practice or to a game. I've enjoyed every minute of my time with the kids. It's been very gratifying, but I'm looking forward to something new, and I'm hoping that we can keep all the good things we've got here going."

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

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