Dupage Policy Journal

David Hess has been named the new boys' basketball coach at Elgin High School.

The 37-year-old Hess has spent the last nine seasons at Stevenson as an under-level coach, including six as coach of the sophomore team. Over that time, the Stevenson varsity team won three state trophies, most notably the 2014-15 Class 4A title.

A 1999 graduate of Hersey, Hess previously served as head coach at downstate Tuscola, where he finished 41-46 over three seasons.

"David knows what he's doing," Stevenson Coach Pat Ambrose told the Daily Herald. "He's been a head coach before and he did a great job as our sophomore coach. He was the head assistant during our runs and certainly did as much as anyone in our program at that point. He really helped us. He is worthy, willing and able. I could use a lot of adjectives. We're losing a good one."

Hess said he believes all his experiences have prepared him for this moment.

"I've prepared for a long time with this goal in mind," he told the Herald. "I feel I'm better prepared to know what to expect being a head coach. It's really like running a small business with your coaching staff, the feeder system, administration and players, and communicating with them all. I feel I've improved in so many aspects."

Hess replaces Mike Sitter, who recently announced he was leaving the program after 11 seasons to become the athletic director at Hampshire. Hess will also teach social studies at the school.

Elgin Athletic Director Paul Pennington said Hess checked all the boxes in terms of what the program was looking for. 

"We were looking for somebody, No. 1, in the building," he said. "No. 2, somebody that can relate to (the players) other than just basketball. David has all the tools and the credentials and, certainly, the references to come with that coming from Stevenson and having that experience. But also being a head coach at a smaller school provided him some opportunities and some stepping stones to be here."