There wasn’t a whole lot of turnover in the basketball coaching carousel this past offseason. But there were a few intriguing spots to be filled.
Here is a closer look at several new coaches who will be leading six of the bigger programs in the area this season.
Glenbard North
Former coach: Kevin Tonn
New coach: Nick Healy
After leading the Panthers to 24 wins and DuKane Conference and regional championships, Tonn felt the pull of his alma mater and took the Wheaton North job.
Now Healy, the son of Wheaton South head coach Mike Healy and most recently an assistant at Waubonsie Valley, takes over a team that could be ranked in the preseason with four returning starters. That strong nucleus includes the talented 1-2 punch of 6-3 Lamari Carpenter and 6-6 Oturo Redento.
Lake Park
Former coach: Billy Pitcher
New coach: Bob Reibel
Reibel crosses over from coaching Lake Park’s girls program, where he won both DuKane Conference and regional titles while setting a program record for wins, to lead the boys. He has been the girls coach for the last three seasons.
Reibel inherits some exciting players, including 6-6 Brennan Shannon and sophomores Christian Burge and Frank Battaglia.
Oswego East
Former coach: Ryan Velasquez
New coach: Brian Johnson
Oswego East basketball enjoyed a terrific nine-year run under Velasquez, who stepped down after going 198-71 and winning 20-plus games every season except for the Covid-shortened one.
The search for a coach landed on one with experience. Johnson led West Aurora for eight years and Kaneland for six. Johnson, who most recently was an assistant coach at Metea Valley, won four regionals and a sectional title in 2018 while at West Aurora.
St. Viator
Former coach: Michael O’Keefe
New coach: Al Biancalana
There isn’t a new coach with more experience than Biancalana.
The veteran coach has 25 years of head-coaching experience, including…
