Glenbrook South women’s head basketball coach Steve Weissenstein has been named the 2012 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year. More specifically, Weissenstein is the co-coach of the year for the 3A and 4A divisions in district four of Illinois, which covers the majority of the North Shore schools.

Weissenstein, commonly referred to as “Wise” by his students and peers, appreciates the fact that the surrounding coaches recognize the successful season he and his team had.

“We had a great year, and this just puts a cherry on top of it,” Wise said. “It says that my colleagues also understood that we had a really good team and we were able to do some things that we usually don’t do.”

In Wise’s 23rd year as a head basketball coach at South, he was able to capture 23 wins and a regional title over New Trier. Wise believes it was this success that allowed him to win the award.

“I think the fact that we were able to beat New Trier in the Regional, beat Jewel Lloyd and Niles West in the sectional-semis, and play Loyola tough without Colleen [McDonagh] really did it for me,” Wise said.

Senior Colleen McDonagh had played for Wise since her sophomore year, but unfortunately broke her wrist before the sectional championship game. According to McDonagh, it was Wise’s sincere belief in the team that lead to their achievements on the court.

“His belief in us, and belief that we really could do well, made us do better as a team and made us believe in ourselves in the games,” McDonagh said.

McDonagh also commended the great coaching style and tactics that Wise used day in and day out with his team.

“He made every single person on the team feel important,” McDonagh said. “He did a really great job making sure everyone knew they were valued for their role on the team.”

According to Wise, his “even-keeled” approach, and the fact that he encourages rather than yells, has worked very well for him in his 14 years as the women’s head coach and even in his previous nine years as the men’s head coach.

“I kind of coach the way that I liked to be coached when I was an athlete,” Wise said. “I like to let them just play, and if I have something to tell a girl, then I’ll go up and tell her. I’m not going to yell at her or try to embarrass her.”

After winning the 2009 Distinguished Teacher Award, Wise has now captured the Coach of the Year award as well. According to Wise, he has no intentions of slowing down.

“I love what I’m doing, and I have no desire to stop coaching,” Wise said. “Every year, I’m going 100 miles per hour during the season, and then it’s done. Then I can’t wait until next year.”

Weissenstein will be honored for winning this award at a banquet held at Illinois State University.