Bowen's goal: To bring out best in Bulldogs

Former Grayslake Central coach Tim Bowen is the new assistant varsity boys basketball coach at Waukegan High.

(News-Sun file)

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WAUKEGAN -- "Winning the state championship. Winning the conference championship. Winning a regional. Winning a sectional."

Those were the goals discussed by new assistant varsity boys basketball coach Tim Bowen and Waukegan head coach Ron Ashlaw this summer, according to Bowen.

The deposed Grayslake Central coach, generally considered one of the best hoops minds in the county, was officially hired at Tuesday's school-board session. His junior-laden Rams were 22-7 last season, winning conference and regional championships one year ahead of the expected success schedule.

This summer, Bowen ran afoul of two members of the Grayslake district school board who voted not to rehire him in a bizarre set of circumstances. Too intense, was the general opinion of those opposed to the coach.

The prospect of being a part of Waukegan's talented team at The Dog Pound has Bowen charged and ready to go.

In addition to being able to impart his hoops wisdom to arguably the most gifted junior in the state, Jereme Richmond, Bowen noted that "There are quite a few kids who are pretty good in this group. This is going to be a fun five months coming up, and I'm really looking forward to it."

As for Richmond, Bowen is well aware of the 6-foot-6 star's abilities, pointing specifically to his exceptional passing and rebounding.

"He sees the floor so well and he's hard to stop when he wants to get a rebound," Bowen noted. "I want to do the best I can, as do all the coaches, to get him to play at the highest level possible at all times."

Known as a defense-minded coach who stresses discipline, Bowen did not want to comment specifically on internal player-coach struggles that contributed to a disappointing 13-14 Bulldog season last year.

"You look at the team roster and you can see that this was a young team," the new assistant said. "Immaturity could have been part of it. But I really can't say for sure. What we need to do, obviously though, is to get down to business for this coming year."

Before getting the Grayslake job, Bowen was an assistant under the dean of Lake County coaches, Chuck Ramsey, so he knows the business of being a right-hand-man.

"I'll be the second set of eyes, do the legwork, the dirty work so the coach can concentrate on the game," he said, noting that he'll be expected to offer suggestions during a heated contest."

Bowen said he and Ashlaw were on the same page philosophically about Dr. Naismith's game.

"We both like good, old-fundamental basketball," said Bowen, "and he's not afraid to work the kids hard in practice."

The two coaches are also of one mind when it comes to capitalizing on the team's strong points, which include up-tempo capabilities.

"We discussed some options," Bowen said. "He's already put in some stuff that opens up the offense."

As for the future beyond this season, Bowen said he's still very interested in being a head coach somewhere down the line.

"But who knows," he said. "I may have so much fun over here I may not want to leave." PREP BOYS BASKETBALL