Huber's guidance keyed D-C's success
Relaxed but demanding. Easy-going but focused.
Those are a few ways to describe Lance Huber's coaching style, which might not include a lot of yelling but is effective nonetheless. In fact, it was that cool and calm leadership that helped Dundee-Crown reach new heights during the 2008-09 boys basketball season.
(Courier-News File)
• All-Area First Team
• All-Area Second Team
• All-Area Third Team
• All-Area Honorable Mention
• All-time players and coaches of the year
Huber strikes an unassuming pose as he stands on the sidelines, often with his arms crossed and an expressionless look on his face. If it weren't for his suit and tie he'd blend right in with the rest of the crowd.
The difference between Huber and the rest of the crowd, though, is that he isn't merely a bystander. He orchestrates the action on the court by tirelessly preparing and motivating his team to succeed. After the opening tip goes up in the air, Huber is simply watching to see how his plan unfolds.
More often than not this year things went according to plan. The Chargers opened the year by winning the Sycamore Thanksgiving Tournament title. Then they rolled to the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship with a perfect 10-0 league record.
Next up was a regional championship, then a sectional championship, then a super-sectional championship and finally a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A state playoffs that few could have envisioned for a team with no Division I prospects.
Along the way D-C set a school record for wins, finishing 24-7. The team's stirring postseason run also broke new ground for the Fox Valley Conference, which hadn't sent a boys basketball team to the state finals in its history before this year.
For those accomplishments Huber is the 2009 Courier-News Coach of the Year. He also earned the recognition in 2004 following his first season as D-C's coach.
"Our guys did a great job of accepting coaching and getting better," Huber said. "They just wouldn't quit and they really, really wanted to get wins. They deserve the credit. They were fantastic."
Taking it one game at a time is a popular cliché among coaches, but keeping players focused on the task at hand is easier said than done. Nonetheless, Huber managed to get his players to respect every opponent and to play almost every game with a sense of urgency.
At no time was this task tougher than in early February when D-C was abuzz about the Chargers' Friday night showdown at District 300 rival Jacobs. The only problem was D-C had a Tuesday night game against Cary-Grove everyone in the school seemed to be overlooking.
With a potential bump in the road looming, Huber reminded his team that the Jacobs game wouldn't mean much if it came on the heels of a disappointing loss. The Chargers responded by beating the Trojans 58-42 before knocking off the Eagles three nights later in front of a jam-packed crowd at Jacobs.
"Every game he somehow would make it seem to us that this game was the most important game we'd play," D-C senior Jeff Beck said. "Even if we'd already beaten a team, he'd tell us they're going to be coming back for revenge. There would always be a new reason why we'd have to come prepared and focused."
Making the season even more satisfying for Huber was the fact that he was able to share the success with assistant coach Bob Sweeney, who missed most of the 2007-08 season after suffering a stroke.
The effect of having Sweeney back on the sidelines wasn't lost on Huber or his players, who were coming off a 12-14 campaign in the year of Sweeney's absence.
"Huber and coach Sweeney complement each other so well," D-C senior Justin Strzelczyk said. "That's what really helped a lot."
Added Huber: "It's great to be able to do something like what we did this year with somebody who is a great guy and a great friend."
Huber now has a 100-68 record, three regional championships, two FVC titles and one unforgettable trip to the state finals in six seasons leading the Chargers.
Although he says every team he coaches has a special place in his memory, he admits this year's group "will definitely rank up there among the better ones."
"The thing about the guys was they didn't care about themselves, they cared about the team," Huber said. "I feel very blessed to have coached a group like that.
"A lot of that goes right back to the parents and the way they've raised their kids. I was just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time."
