Chicago-Area High School Football News and Scores | Season Pass

Steve Weemer is stepping down after eight seasons as Waubonsie Valley boys basketball coach to devote more time to pursuing his administrative degree.

“I will still be a teacher at Waubonsie Valley and we’ll see what the next chapter holds,” said Weemer, who had a .596 winning percentage, going 134-91 in eight seasons at the school — capped by this year’s 21-8 campaign.

Weemer’s Warriors won regional crowns in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and had three runner-up and two third-place finishes in conference action.

“It’s a draining, emotional, stressful and very demanding job,” continued Weemer, who said he told his wife, Megan, last August that this would very likely be his last season.

“I felt it was time to pursue other opportunities but it wasn’t an easy decision by any means. I’ve put 20 years in coaching and that’s a long, long time. It’s not Gordie Kerkman-like, but he’s an amazing guy.”

Weemer started his coaching career while doing his student teaching at downstate PORTA, where he coached as an assistant for two years before becoming head coach for two seasons. He then returned to his alma mater to be a college assistant at Eastern Illinois University before returning to the high school ranks to take the Waubonsie Valley job in the 2005-06 season.

Weemer, whose family includes two sons in third-grader Payton and pre-schooler Lucas, also “wanted to go out on my terms and with a good group of kids and this was a great group of kids, especially these seniors. They were all super, super kids and my kids enjoyed having them come over for family dinners and to hang out with and play video games with. Combined with the great assistant coaches I’ve had, it’s been a great experience.”

Waubonsie Valley athletic director Mike Rogowski, who is retiring at the end of this school year, said the job has been posted and that he will collect the incoming resumes and pass them on to principal Jason Stipp and his successor, Larkin AD Chris Neibch, who was hired last week.

“It’s gonna be a big loss, Steve did a great job with the program,” said Rogowski, who added the successor won’t likely be named until all teaching staff considerations are completed for the next school year later this year.