The warmth of the sun beckons.
Aaron Sovern didn’t know it would come on the heels of a mid-March blizzard Monday when he made plans to announce — after the high school boys basketball season officially ended with the conclusion of the state finals — that he would be stepping down as Yorkville Christian’s coach.
The timing now, however, seems fitting.
Sovern and his wife Liz, who both hold multiple positions at the school, will stay through the end of the academic year before following through with plans to relocate to Arizona.
“There’s a litany of reasons,” Sovern said. “Health, for one, out west with the dry heat. We’ve wanted to move somewhere that’s more warm.”
Brady, their youngest of two sons, currently attends college at Grand Canyon in Phoenix.
“It’s not like I have anything lined up,” Aaron Sovern said. “I don’t plan on coaching a high school team next year. I’d like to get into scouting at the professional or college level and hope to pursue that interest with some contacts I have.
“We’re letting God lead us. Brady is out there now, sitting by the pool, and it’s 85 degrees.”
The couple hasn’t put their house on the market yet but hope to make the move this summer.
“It’s something we’ve felt in our hearts for a while,” Sovern said. “Out of loyalty to the school, we held off announcing it until we had a chance to talk to the administration.
“We decided a couple months ago but didn’t want any distractions during the season.”
The Mustangs’ season ended March 6 with a 23-11 record after a 69-56 loss to Bishop McNamara in the Class 2A Seneca Sectional final. Sovern then took time to meet with his players to inform them of his decision.
Yorkville Christian was founded in 2001 and Sovern has been there for 13 years, starting the boys basketball program with the 2014-15 season. The Mustangs became a full member of the Illinois High School Association for 2016-17.
In his 12 seasons, the Mustangs have played a challenging independent schedule featuring many Class 3A and 4A programs. His teams went 186-153 for a .549 winning percentage.
In 10 seasons in the IHSA, Yorkville Christian has won four regional titles, two sectionals and the Class 1A state title in 2021-22. Enrollment is listed at 187 students on the IHSA’s website.
“When we started, the school had 50 kids,” Sovern said.
Yorkville Christian’s new athletic facility, dubbed “The Canyon,” opened in 2019 and features four full-sized basketball courts along with a sports performance training area and wrestling facility.
The Mustangs have sent numerous players to the next level, highlighted by the state championship led by 6-foot-5 guard Jaden Schutt, a Duke recruit who transferred after two seasons to Virginia Tech, where he recently completed his redshirt junior season.
David Douglas Jr., an underclassmen for the state champs, moved on to Green Bay and won Horizon League Freshman of the Year honors before transferring to Fresno State.
Senior guard Jayden Riley, who led this season’s team, was named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association first team all-state in Class 2A and has committed to SIU-Edwardsville.
Sovern grew up in Aurora and graduated from Aurora Christian, where he met his wife, and went on to play basketball at Judson.
Liz, who has taught biblical studies, pulled double duty as the school nurse while coaching the cheerleaders.
“I’ve had to be dean and athletic director,” Aaron said. “I was principal for eight-plus years and always taught as well. I’ve been campus director the last two years handling facility rentals along with a little bit of everything, including taking out the garbage and mopping floors.
“We all wear a lot of hats.”
As for their future?
“We’re going out on faith, pursuing other opportunities,” he said.
