Two of the area's more traditionally strong high school girls' basketball programs have undergone coaching changes. Bradley Central coach Brian Glasner has been asked to step down, and Grundy County coach Kasey Woodlee also turned in her resignation.
Glasner has been the Bearettes' coach for six seasons, compiling a 120-79 overall record. They finished second in their district and advanced to the state sectionals twice under Glasner, winning 25 games each of those seasons, but also had two losing campaigns, including this past season when they finished 15-17 and lost in the first round of the region tournament.
Glasner worked with the program for two years before taking over as head coach.
"We have just decided to go in a different direction with the program," Bradley Central athletic director Turner Jackson said. "Brian has been with us for nine years and has done a great job. He's very organized and a very hard worker and has been an asset not only to our girls' program but to our entire athletic department."
Glasner was on the road coaching an AAU program this weekend and unavailable for comment.
Assistant Jason Rueter will act as head coach and is considered the likely successor to take over the Bearettes.
Woodlee had coached at her alma mater a total of 10 years, the last four as head coach, compiling an 81-30 overall record and winning at least 20 games each season. The Lady Yellow Jackets won the District 7-AA tournament last season.
She was a senior starter on Grundy County's 1998 Class AA state championship team.
"Since becoming a mother in the last year, that really changed my perspective on a lot," Woodlee said. "My priorities are a lot different than they were. I used to want to stay 30 minutes after practice to shoot with the players or work with them, but now I'm looking at my watch to get home to my son.
"This was my dream job. My dad (Leon) was my assistant coach, and one of the toughest things for me is knowing we won't get to spend all that extra time working together like we have for these last few years. This was a tough decision all the way around, but it was the right one for me right now."
Stephen has covered local sports in the tri-state area for more than 20 years, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor since 2005. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state, regional and national writing awards. He was named one of the top 10 sports writers in the nation ...
She will be missed
She needs to sign it, not just hand her resignation in.
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