Graham will return to coach at Stevenson

Ashley Graham, who guided Prospect to its best girls basketball season over the winter, has been named the seventh varsity girls basketball coach in Stevenson history.

Graham, who turned 29 last month, served as the varsity assistant at Stevenson for three seasons before taking over Prospect's program in 2012.

At Prospect, Graham led the Knights to a 64-22 record in three seasons, including a 26-3 mark this season that included a regional championship and the school's first appearance in the Mid-Suburban League championship game in 11 years.

Two of their losses came to Class 4A runner-up Fremd. Prospect went 15-13 in her first year and 23-6 in her second. The back-to-back 20-win seasons were the first for Prospect since 2004.

"We're very excited to welcome Ashley Graham back to the Stevenson girls basketball program," said Stevenson athletic director Trish Betthauser. "She's a talented and energetic professional who will have a positive impact on our student-athletes."

At Stevenson, Graham follows her own former high school coach, Tom Dineen, who helped the Patriots stay at a high level of achievement in recent years.

Graham inherits a program that has won 20 or more games in each of the last six seasons, including a 26-5 record last winter.

Graham, whose maiden name is Sandstead, was a three-time all-state player for Buffalo Grove, graduating in 2004.

She finished her Bison career ranked third in scoring (1,871 points), sixth in steals (248) and eighth in assists (301). Her teams were 69-30 over her final three seasons. Graham also was a three-year starter on the girls volleyball team.

After high school, Graham played for Illinois State and was chosen team captain her final two seasons. She set an ISU freshman record for 3-point field goal percentage (.429) as the Redbirds reached the NCAA tournament.