The Public League may be losing one of its most accomplished basketball coaches, but that loss could trigger change intended to prevent further defections.
Chris Head, who led Westinghouse to the boys Class AA state title in March, is being courted by School District 205 to take over the program at either Proviso West or Proviso East, with a decision possible as soon as Monday.
“Either one would be a great opportunity,” said Head, who last year moved to west suburban Broadview, a close commute to both schools.
To deal with the possible flight of talented coaches to the suburbs–something the Catholic League has battled for decades–Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan is considering a financial incentive program “where coaches are rewarded not for wins and losses, but for the academic achievements of their athletes.”
“What I respect about Chris Head the most is not that he won a state championship, but that 10 of his players are going on to college,” Duncan said.
The idea is in the exploratory phase and Duncan did not have specifics as to how such a system would work.
“It’s a nice idea if he can get that kind of money,” said Vince Carter, Von Steuben’s boys basketball coach. “In some cases it would be unfair because . . . the elite schools would usually have more athletes going on to college.”
The fear is that suburban schools with deeper pockets could lure other talented city coaches. Some suburban schools offer far more than the $3,500 stipend earned by Public League head coaches.
“We pay our coaches more than twice that amount,” said District 205 Superintendent of Schools Gregory Jackson, whose district includes the two Proviso high schools. “There is no maximum.”
Duncan said that even by sweetening the pot, Public League stipends still might not be as high as the suburban counterparts.
“Because of the tax base in the suburbs, suburban schools are getting [more] money per student than the Chicago Public Schools get,” Duncan said. “We have to create a situation where the coaches feel not only comfortable, but fully supported, and that they realize they have a real opportunity to make a difference in our kids’ lives.
“I would hope that the difference of a few thousand dollars isn’t enough to draw them to the suburbs.”
The potential hiring of Head comes in part because of grumbling in both Proviso East’s and Proviso West’s athletic communities over the perceived underachievement of their sports programs.
Proviso East won state basketball titles in 1969, 1974, 1991 and 1992, but hasn’t qualified for the quarterfinals since 1993.
Former coach Andrew Johnson was let go in spring 2001 after failing to lead Proviso East to the state quarterfinals and was replaced by Troy Jackson, who went 28-3 this season but whose team was upset by New Trier in the supersectionals.
Gregory Jackson is seeking a shakeup of the Provisos’ athletic programs, beginning with the possible hiring of Head at Monday’s school board meeting at Proviso West.
Holding up a final decision by Head is job security.
“At least with the [Chicago] Board of Education, I know what I’ve got,” Head said. “But in these suburban schools, changes in the school board could cause you to lose your job.”
To create the opening for Head, Proviso West athletic director Frank Montgomery will take over the AD position at Proviso East, replacing the retired Therese McLaughlin. Current Proviso West basketball coach Mark Schneider has been offered Montgomery’s position as AD in lieu of his coaching job and turned it down.
“I’ve never really been trained for an administrator’s position, and besides, I enjoy coaching basketball,” said Schneider, who will remain as chairman of the physical education department.
Head would either take over for Schneider or could be handed the more glamorous Proviso East job, with current Pirates coach Troy Jackson being shifted over to Proviso West, replacing Schneider.
“Some of those moves could come to fruition by next week,” Gregory Jackson said. “Troy was fine, and I don’t anticipate any change in that direction.”
That suits the first-year basketball coach just fine.
“I talked to Supt. Jackson and he told me I wasn’t going anyplace,” Troy Jackson said. “If [going to Proviso West] happens, I would be really angry.”
Proviso West also recently hired ex-Walther Lutheran football coach Bo Flowers for an opening in that program, but Flowers was told he could be shifted to Proviso East with Pirates coach Cecil Ratliff coming over to West.
