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St. Francis hires Dwyer as coach

Erin Dwyer clearly states his priority as a boys basketball coach.

"I'm a relationship coach," he said.

Dwyer believes he's found just the place to build on that. On Thursday the 44-year-old husband and father of two was announced as St. Francis' new boys basketball coach.

Dwyer succeeds 2015 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Bob Ward, who held a similar attitude. Ward announced his retirement on April 8 after 21 seasons, the last four at St. Francis.

"My philosophy is you're building relationships with your players. Everyone's different," Dwyer said. "I think St. Francis is a great opportunity for me to continue doing that."

A basketball and baseball player at Glenbard North, graduating in 1989, Dwyer returned to his alma mater to coach at freshman, sophomore and varsity levels. For eight seasons he was on Bob Miller's varsity staff, helping the Panthers advance downstate in 2002.

Dwyer served two seasons as Glenbard North's head coach before resuming an assistant's role for current Panthers coach Joe Larson. The past two seasons Dwyer has been the varsity assistant to Brett Moore at Hinsdale South.

Dwyer also is the owner and director of Champions Club Basketball Academy, which helps players develop on and off the court "regardless of their access to financial resources," according to Thursday's release by St. Francis athletic director Dan Hardwick.

Dwyer earned his degree in exercise science and played baseball at North Central College, whose atmosphere and spirit he believes are similar in tone to what St. Francis offers.

"I love what the school stands for. I think they're doing great things, and not just with basketball," Dwyer said. "I wanted to be around that. I love that small community feel, and that's what attracted me to the St. Francis job."

He'll hit the ground running, coaching the Spartans in a tournament in Palatine on Friday. The St. Francis basketball camp starts Monday, and though Dwyer said he'd miss the "great kids" at Hinsdale South, including 6-foot-11 star Barret Benson, he'll make new acquaintances in Wheaton - while installing his offensive and defensive strategies.

"To me it's about building relationships with the kids," Dwyer said, "and I think that school is perfect for me."

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