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Waubonsie Valley finds new boys basketball coach

Jason Mead jokingly said his boys basketball coaching career began while still playing at Hoffman Estates High School.

"I was the guy who sat on the end of the bench and yelled," he said.

He's been able to stand on the sideline and do that for five seasons as coach at Dixon. Mead will continue at Waubonsie Valley, which on Monday announced the 31-year-old math teacher as its new varsity coach.

That yelling has humanity behind it.

"I value leadership development in players, I value the culture of the program and that we do things the right way. And I want it to be as good of an experience for the kids as possible," said Mead, who met with Waubonsie's players on Monday.

"When they graduate I want them to be great citizens, husbands and fathers," he said.

A 2003 graduate of Hoffman Estates whose brother, Bryan, is the Hawks' all-time scoring leader, Mead went 80-65 at Dixon. The last three seasons the Dukes went 76-13, winning a 2014 Class 3A regional title and Big Northern Conference West Division championships each of the past two years led by Nebraska-bound Isaiah Roby. Dixon's 2015 conference title was its first in 48 years, Mead said.

"He's really big not only holding kids accountable but holding himself accountable," said Waubonsie Valley athletic director Chris Neibch, who posted the position March 24 after the resignation of three-year coach Chaz Taft. Neibch said about 40 candidates applied.

"We really liked his vision of the program and how they're going to get there together," Neibch said.

On the court Mead described himself as a "big shot-selection guy" who prefers half-court man-to-man defense but will play whatever his roster, and the opponent's, dictates.

"Even if you're having a down year, if you play solid defense, you rebound, you take care of the ball and you take good shots you're going to compete in games," Mead said. "Those are some big things that I think are important. Even if you're not as talented as teams and you do those four things you're going to stay in games."

Under his direction Dixon obviously was more talented than its opponents, and Mead said leaving the relationships he'd built there "hurt" - a hurt born of teamwork.

"At the same time I'm very excited to work with a new group of kids, very excited to get to meet them," Mead said.

"There's a lot of talent (at Waubonsie) but more importantly there's an environment where there's a lot of school spirit, the principal (Jason Stipp) and athletic director are very supportive, and I believe it's an environment where we can do some nice things and we can as a group try to come together and as a team try to accomplish on-court success and build a culture where, when it's over, you're sad that it's over."

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