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Kougias eager to start living the dream at Grayslake Central

New Grayslake Central boys basketball coach Kosta Kougias joked about how he probably would have dealt with Kosta Kougias as a high school player.

"If I had me today in practice, I probably would have thrown me out more than once," Kougias said with a laugh.

In all seriousness, Kougias' background as a high school student at Prospect and his unique trek into high school teaching and coaching will give him an interesting perspective for the new job that officially became his last week. Kougias didn't play varsity basketball because he admitted his commitment as a student-athlete wasn't ideal.

Kougias also stepped away from coaching last year so he could spend more time helping his wife with their two young children. But last March, he approached Grayslake Central coach Brian Moe about getting back into the program.

That's when Moe said his job might be available because of his interest in the Rams' athletic director job that came open after Steve Gertz left to take the same position at Dundee-Crown.

"My ears perked up a little more," Kougias said. "I talked with my wife and she understands this is an opportunity to do something that was a goal and dream of mine. How often does it happen where people get the chance to check off a goal in life or realize a dream?"

So, now Kougias has his dream job after spending the summer as the interim head coach.

"He's going to have some big eyes over his shoulder," Moe joked. "He has a good understanding from having him on the bench with me and a good perspective and ideas to bring along. He was a natural fit for us as somebody who is in the building (as a dean of students) and knows the kids and the program."

Kougias spent three years as the sophomore head coach and one as a freshman assistant under Moe, who went 101-76 with four Fox Valley Conference Fox Division and three Class 3A regional titles in six years. Kougias was also a freshman coach for three years at Stevenson under Pat Ambrose and was a varsity assistant and sophomore coach for Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Don Rowley in two years at Hersey.

"The first few years I was trying to figure out how to coach and teach these kids, especially in game situations," Kougias said. "How to still be a fan of the game, without being a fanatic, was the hardest part. But I was fortunate to work with some really good coaches."

The 1992 Prospect graduate played basketball as a freshman and sophomore there. He described himself as a bubble kid whose opportunity burst because he said he wasn't a good teammate and didn't take practicing seriously enough.

"That's one of the reasons I wanted to go into coaching," Kougias said. "I didn't realize how hard you have to work to get better. I made that mistake by thinking I could skate by.

"Ultimately that gives me the opportunity to recognize the same behaviors in these players. I can be proactive ... and share my experiences a little bit."

Kougias' basketball coaching experience started at The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, which his family attends, while he was working in the family's restaurant business.

"I thought, 'This is way too much fun,' " said Kougias, who also had become more interested in teaching.

Kougias went to Roosevelt University in Schaumburg to get his degree in education. Then his friend Chad Freeman, who was a starting guard on the 1991 Prospect team that reached the Class AA supersectional, brought him on as a volunteer assistant with Hersey's sophomore team.

That helped lead Kougias to his dream job at Grayslake Central. Running the camps and team this summer helped give him a taste of the administrative duties that are part of leading a program.

"The beauty of Brian's philosophy is I share the same philosophy, although there might be a few changes and things I'll do differently," Kougias said. "Brian took the input of all of his assistant coaches and got a program of everyone working together and being on the same page.

"This has been a successful program through they years and we're bringing back kids with some varsity experience.

"I'm excited and this will be a fun team. We had a good summer ... and hopefully we can achieve success."

Kougias certainly knows from his experience what it takes to make that happen.

• Marty Maciaszek is a freelance columnist for the Daily Herald. He can be reached at marty.maciaszek@gmail.com.

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