Huettemann glad to be back home at Geneva

Lindsey Huettemann knows Geneva girls basketball.

During her 4-year varsity career (1998-2002) playing for head coaches Greg Dierks and Todd Leden, Huettemann - who went by her maiden name Koehn back then - helped lead Geneva to its first 20-win season in 2001-02.

Her hopes of guiding the Vikings to their first Class AA regional title as a senior ended with a painful 51-50 overtime loss to Naperville North in the championship game.

Choosing to play college basketball at Division III Millikin University - "I wanted to make an immediate impact and I didn't want to sit on the bench," she said - Koehn went on to start 104 of 108 games for the Big Blue.

As a junior playing alongside high school teammate Joanna Conner, Koehn helped lead coach Lori Kerans' Millikin team to the NCAA Division III national championship.

Averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, the 5-8 guard poured in 46 3-pointers and earned all-tournament recognition for the Big Blue, who capped a 29-2 season with a 70-50 title victory over Randolph-Macon.

There have been some notable changes since that memorable 2004-05 season - most notably her graduation from Millikin in 2006, marriage to Trevor Huettemann and becoming a math teacher at Harter Middle School in Elburn.

Next month will mark the 10-year anniversary of Millikin's national championship campaign.

"It's definitely hard to believe it has been 10 years," said Huettemann.

Huettemann was unable to attend a Big Blue celebration held last month in Decatur but had a legitimate reason for her absence.

She had other priorities that day - sitting alongside Geneva girls basketball head coach Sarah Meadows during the Vikings' game against Gary West Lake (Ind.) at Fremd.

Proving you can come home again, Huettemann is in her 4th season as a varsity girls basketball assistant at her alma mater.

She's enjoying every minute of it.

"I definitely love being back at Geneva," said Huettemann. "It is a dream come true in that sense."

Meadows gained a "2 for 1" of sorts while searching to fill a couple positions after becoming head coach in 2011-12.

While Trevor Huettemann became the Vikings' sophomore coach, Lindsey joined Meadows' immediate staff as a varsity assistant.

"They're two great people," Meadows said of the Huettemanns.

The Meadows-Huettemann combination has worked to near perfection.

Geneva has compiled a record of 86-28 over the past 3-plus seasons.

"We work real well together," said Meadows. "We're in this together. She has just as much a say in what we do as I do."

"Working with Sarah has been amazing," said Huettemann. "We're really connected. She allows me to do so much."

Huettemann relishes the opportunity to work on the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of coaching.

"I love scouting and watching game films," she said. "I've been very lucky in that respect. She (Meadows) trusts my opinion."

"She does a lot of scouting," Meadows said of Huettemann. "She types up the scouting report and helps diagram plays at our walk-throughs. She has great creativity."

Admittedly, they don't always see eye to eye.

"We disagree at times but we work it out," said Meadows.

"We'll argue but we'll talk it out," said Huettemann. "We're both so competitive. I'm the more emotional one between the two of us. My freshman year (at Geneva), I'd cry after every loss.

"Sometimes now, I have to take a step back and be the mellow one. I enjoy coming to practice every day. She's open to everything that can make the program better."

In addition to her scouting role, Huettemann enjoys helping coach defense.

"I love defense - it's my passion," she said. "I had a steady stat line during my playing days but I wasn't ever known as a big offensive player. I prided myself on playing defense. That's what I brought to my college (team)."

Meadows recognizes what having Huettemann means to the program - and vice versa.

"She's a Geneva kid through and through," said Meadows. "I don't think they (team members) know how good a player she was at Geneva. The girls basketball program is extremely special to her. She has a huge heart. Now it's time for her to give back.

"She doesn't miss anything," added the coach. "We had three games in a row last week and she was right there waiting when we had a 7:30 a.m. walk-through. Some assistants would have asked to show up a little later but that's not her attitude. She's very dedicated."

Part of that dedication could come from her dad, Bill, a longtime teacher and coach at Geneva before his recent retirement.

"My dad has always challenged me," said Huettemann. "He has also always been super supportive."

A year ago, Geneva earned its second Class 4A state semifinal appearance in 6 seasons, finishing fourth with a 26-5 mark.

"It was an absolute blast and like a dream come true," said Huettemann. "It was exciting to be there and be a part of it. Winning the regional, sectional and supersectional was a surreal feeling."

The Vikings began the week with a 17-6 record as they await the upcoming Class 4A regional tournament - and a likely No. 2 sectional seed.

"Hopefully we're getting healthy and ready to make a run at the right time," said Huettemann.

Expecting her first child in April, Huettemann appears to have found the perfect match at Geneva.

"Coaching is definitely a passion in my life," she said. "I plan on trying to do it as long as I can."

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com