Former University of Colorado Head Football Coach Bill McCartney once said, “All coaching is, is taking a player where he can’t take himself.”  Varsity head coach James McLaughlin took the players where they could not take themselves, and earned the hardware to prove it.
 
McLaughlin recently won the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association co-coach of the year for class 4A.

“I have always stressed the importance of doing things the right way, all the time.  It doesn’t matter what it is,” McLaughlin said. “If you develop the habit of doing things the right way, then life is easy. The problem with a lot of young people today is they look for the easy way out. They try and find the short cut.  They forget what it is like to be a good person, and doing something that ultimately will get them in trouble.”

McLaughlin’s commitment to doing things the right way, assisted in taking a young team to sectionals this year.

“On the court he made me a better basketball and football player.  With the running and intense practices I improved my foot speed and got in better shape.  Off the court I learned discipline and hard work,” junior Mike Rouse said.  “At times running became really hard and fighting through to finish really helps.  I took those lessons of hard work and discipline and applied them to life.”

Before McLaughlin became known as a stern, level-headed basketball coach, he drew motivation from some of basketball’s all time greatest players.

“I really admired how unselfish Magic Johnson was.  The way he distributed the ball to his teammates, his amazing passing ability, and his competitive drive was second to none,” McLaughlin said. “I also really admired Larry Bird.  How he played the game and his ability to score was amazing to watch.  And then once Jordan came around and his amazing athletic ability, I knew this was the game I wanted to play.”

McLaughlin, like many of his student athletes, got his inspiration to play basketball from his parents.

“My mom was very strict, and really forced me to understand the importance of being a student first and an athlete second.  My father was also the person that I looked up to for help with the game of basketball,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin gives credit for his accomplishment to the help of his assistant coaches, like Roy Condotti.

“I was extremely pleased and not at all surprised.  His record, not only this season, but for the past five years as the head coach at H-F speaks for itself,” Condotti said.

The emotion and dedication that McLaughlin displayed throughout the season kept the players attitudes optimistic despite some droughts during the season.

“I learned that you must step up and be a man and confront the issue. Coach Mac taught me the roles of life,” Rouse said.

“Congratulations to a great coach and friend,” Condotti said.