Wednesday, March 17, 2010

“Wesclin coach chooses to resign over philosophy (Belleville News-Democrat)” plus 3 more

“Wesclin coach chooses to resign over philosophy (Belleville News-Democrat)” plus 3 more

Wesclin coach chooses to resign over philosophy (Belleville News-Democrat)

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 01:06 AM PDT

"I've enjoyed my nine years here as basketball coach," Brede said Tuesday. "I've decided to step aside because of a difference in basketball philosophy with members of the administration."

Brede, 38, said he was not forced out. He will continue to teach junior-high social studies in the Wesclin school district.

"This was a decision I made on my own," said Brede, who declined to elaborate on the differences in philosophy.

Wesclin Superintendent David Daum was taken aback by Brede's resignation.

"I did not know it was coming," Daum said. "It was a surprise to me, but all of the resignations I get are a surprise to me. I'm usually not made aware of them before they happen."

Daum couldn't shed any light on the main reason Brede gave for stepping down. Daum said he didn't know exactly what he was referencing because he hadn't had a discussion with Brede on those issues.

"All I know is I received a letter of resignation," Daum said. "That's all I have and all I need. Whatever his reasons are, he had them and I respect whatever his decision is.

"Brent has done a lot of great work with the kids in trying to build the program. They've certainly had their successes over the years. It's always difficult to find quality coaches at the high-school level, and we're certainly sad to see him go."

Coaching at his alma mater amounted to a dream job for Brede, who is a link to the glory days of Wesclin basketball. He was a standout on Wesclin's 1990 Class A state championship team, scoring 36 points with 13 rebounds as the Warriors defeated Fairbury Prairie Central 83-78 in double overtime in the title game.

Baseball was Brede's best sport, and the rangy outfielder was drafted in the fifth round out of high school by the Minnesota Twins. He played in the major leagues for parts of three seasons (1996-98), hitting .251 with five homers and 40 RBIs in 169 games with the Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks.

After a stint in Japan and the minor leagues, Brede retired from baseball in 2000. The following year, he was hired to replace Tom Hund as Wesclin's boys basketball coach and led the Warriors to the Sweet Sixteen in his first season.

Brede led the Warriors to four regional titles and two sectional championships (2002 and 2008), posting a 158-109 record in nine seasons.

"We had some success," Brede said. "We had some good years and we had some not-so-good years. To me, the wins and losses are not necessarily as important as being a part and having a part in developing young men.

"That's probably what I'm going to miss the most is working with those young guys in that regard."

The Warriors finished 13-16 this season without a senior on the roster. Wesclin returns all five starters next year.

"It's hard to step away, but at the same time, I'm very at peace with the decision that I made," Brede said. "I feel bad for the boys that I've been there for the last few years, but at the same time, at some point, you're going to stop and leave a class behind. It just so happens this is the one."

Daum said the search for Brede's replacement will begin immediately and encompass both in-house and outside candidates.

Brede and his wife, Lisa, have a 9-year-old son, Nate, and a 6-year-old daughter, Chloe. He said he is going to welcome the extra time he can spend with his family, and he doesn't plan on coaching anytime soon.

"At this point, I have no plans to continue coaching basketball," Brede said. "Wesclin High School is a special place for me because of the opportunities it provided me as a young man. To be able to coach at Wesclin was an honor for me, and it's pretty much the only place I would ever coach. I just appreciated being a part of the history and tradition that we created there."

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Tom Farley: School district must shift philosophy (The Capital Times)

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 02:49 AM PDT

Can Madison afford a new School Board member who requires time to understand the issues, study the research, or develop a good relationship with board members and union leaders? These are all certainly desirable objectives, and over time it is important that they occur. Yet these are exceptional times for Madison and its public school system.

The federal government has demanded that educational leaders in every community must start demonstrating a willingness to challenge the status quo, seek innovative solutions, and begin executing change management efforts. Only those school districts that show a willingness to radically alter their approaches to education, in order to achieve real results, will be supported and funded. The time has come to bring that level of leadership to the Madison School Board.

Management of the Madison School District cannot continue operating in its present form, or under its current philosophies. We have called for additional funding and referendums to increase taxes, and this has not produced the promised results. Clearly, it is not lack of money that hinders our education system; it is the system itself. That needs to change.

However, before we embark on the proactive approaches to changing our system, we are faced with the reactive need to balance our current budget. Here is what I propose: We return to the idea that school districts are charged with the education of our children. That means that budget cut evaluations begin with any program or expense that does not start and end with direct K-12 classroom education. Operating under this approach, any teaching or support position under contract would need to be in schools — those not facing a room full of students on a daily basis are an expense that is at risk. Education funds designated for recreation need to be refocused on our children — any district recreation funds that do not directly support students in our schools (such as for adults, seniors) are an expense that is at risk. And so on.

These are tough decisions, but they are ones that least affect the education of our kids. And Madison needs people who will make those decisions. Madison does not need board members looking at what the research tells us. That's not the point. It's a pretty good bet that there are few programs in place within the Madison School District that research hasn't indicated as producing a positive result. Once again, that's not the point.

As we make these hard choices we will need creative solutions to remedy the problems of our school district, and creative minds to help our district explore new approaches to education. We need to embrace the charter school concept for its unique ability to exploit the positive effects of diversity, and turn our rich cultural differences into educational assets (and ultimately, community assets as well).

Madison has a national reputation for being a creative class city. Now is the time to showcase that culture by transforming our educational system into a national model. Our response to the call for such radical change and innovative approaches in our nation's education system should be, "Who better than Madison, Wisconsin?" After all, that's our brand. So let's ensure that the Madison School Board has people who can deliver that creativity — and the willingness to make the tough decisions that will get us there.

Tom Farley and James Howard are facing off in the only contested election on April 6 for the Madison School Board.

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Nick the bruiser called up to strengthen defense (Chicago Sun-Times)

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 10:16 PM PDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The philosophy is that you never can have too many defensemen. Depth on the back end is important, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has said multiple times.

That couldn't be more true for the Blackhawks than now.

With Brian Campbell out for what might be two months with a fractured collarbone and rib and Kim Johnsson not traveling with the team because of an upper-body injury, the Hawks recalled Nick Boynton from Rockford on Tuesday after he cleared re-entry waivers.

Boynton, 31, will bring a physical edge and plenty of experience. A 10-year veteran, Boynton has 135 points and 810 penalty minutes in 547 NHL games. He was acquired March 2 from the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

''I try to play solid in my own end, don't make mistakes, move the puck and just help out any way I can,'' said Boynton, a former first-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins.

Boynton was paired with Brent Sopel at practice Tuesday. Niklas Hjalmarsson, Campbell's defensive partner, saw time with winger Dustin Byfuglien, who started his career as a defenseman.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't rule out using Byfuglien, who was moved to wing by former coach Denis Savard, on defense. Odds are Byfuglien will see time at both positions.

It only has been two days -- and they haven't played a game -- but it already has been an eventful time in California for the Hawks.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane took part in ESPN's ''SportsCenter'' on Monday night, where they wore their Olympic medals and introduced the Top 10.

On Tuesday, the whole team attended ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' after practice. Kane, Toews, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith participated in the show, while Byfuglien and Adam Burish sang parts of Bob Seger's ''Old Time Rock & Roll" during a commercial break.

Plus, an earthquake shook Southern California on Tuesday morning, although few, if any, of the Hawks felt it.

''I was kind of disappointed. I want to feel an earthquake,'' Burish said. ''That would be kind of cool.''

Goalie Cristobal Huet is out with the flu, so Antti Niemi will start tonight against the Ducks.

Corey Crawford was recalled from Rockford to take Huet's spot.

Quenneville said it was an emergency recall, so the Hawks will not have to send anybody down.

Marian Hossa practiced Tuesday after missing the last game with an upper-body injury.

TONIGHT: BLACKHAWKS AT DUCKS

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Boynton part of Hawks' new-look 'D' corps (SouthtownStar)

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 02:02 AM PDT

Hawks Notebook

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The philosophy is that a team never can have too many defensemen. Depth - Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said multiple times - on the back end is important.

That couldn't be more true for the Blackhawks than now.

With Brian Campbell (fractured clavicle and rib) out for what could be two months and Kim Johnsson (upper-body injury) not traveling with the team, the Hawks recalled Nick Boynton from Rockford Tuesday after he cleared re-entry waivers.

Boynton, 31, will bring a physical edge and plenty of experience. A 10-year veteran, Boynton has 135 points and 810 penalty minutes in 547 NHL games. He was acquired March 2 from the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

"I try to play solid in my own end, don't make mistakes, move the puck and just help out any way I can," said Boynton, a former first-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins.

"I'm very fortunate in the way things worked out. I've watched this team from afar. They're a great team. It's lucky for me to get a chance to be a part of it.

Boynton was paired with Brent Sopel Tuesday at practice. Niklas Hjalmarsson, Campbell's defensive partner, saw time with winger Dustin Byfuglien, who started his career as a defenseman.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't rule out using Byfuglien, who was moved to wing by former coach Denis Savard, on defense. Odds are Byfuglien will see time at both positions.

"I think we'll start with seven. He's seven," Quenneville said, referring to Byfuglien. "He'll be playing up front, but we'll see how everything sorts out. It's always an option."

Byfuglien is up for anything, although there will be a few kinks to sort out, especially skating backward.

"I wouldn't mind going back there and trying it. It's their decision," he said. "It went pretty well going backward (at practice). It was more or less the timing."

California dreaming

It's been just two days - and they've yet to play a game - but it's already been an eventful time in California for the Hawks. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane took part Monday night in ESPN's SportsCenter, where they wore their Olympic medals and introduced the Top 10.

On Tuesday, the whole team attended the "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" after practice. Kane, Toews, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith participated in the show, while Byfuglien and Adam Burish sang parts of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" during a commercial break.

Plus, an earthquake shook Southern California on Tuesday morning, although few, if any, of the Hawks felt it. "I was kind of disappointed. I want to feel an earthquake," Burish said. "That would be kind of cool."

Niemi to start

Goalie Cristobal Huet is out with the flu, so Antti Niemi will start tonight against the Ducks. Corey Crawford was recalled from Rockford to take Huet's spot. Quenneville said it was an emergency recall, so the Hawks don't have to send anybody down. Marian Hossa (upper-body injury) practiced Tuesday after missing Sunday's game.

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