Gimme 5: Marian Catholic Girls Coach Lives, Eats and Sleeps Basketball

Marian Catholic girls basketball coach Annie Basic-Byrne has enjoyed huge success since taking over the Spartan program.

In the six years she has coached the Spartans, Basic-Byrne has compiled a recofd of 162-38. Her teams have won six regional titles, five sectional titles and made two trips downstate, finishing third in 2007.

This is the Joliet Catholic Academy grad's first head coaching job and there is no place else she would rather be in Illinois.

“It has been a great experience and a lot of fun,” Basic-Byrne said. “I deal with great families and great kids. The best part is the end product, what these kids have the ability to do balancing academics, life and what is important to them in terms of their end goal in basketball or whatever else it is in life."

^{Basic-Byrne went to junior college for two years at Connors State College in Oklahoma before returning to finish up at St. Xavier. She played women's basketball at both schools.}

When asked what she likes to do outside of school, she said she still likes to play basketball, including pickup games against her husband.

“We play all of the time," she said. "He is a lot bigger than me and pretty good, so hopefully are kids will be pretty good as well.”

This former Irish dancer is also the assistant associate athletic director and is the only female in the school's athletic department at Marian Catholic.

^{“The nice part about my job is that I enjoy it and feel lucky to do it," Basic-Byrne said. "I love getting to interact with the different sports every day.} I have a great example in athletic director Dave Mattio to follow. He has been here for 35 years, and I enjoy working with him and learning from him.”

The Spartans have had their season ended the last three years by Chicago power Whitney Young in the supersectionals, including a heartbreaking buzzer-beater setback three years ago.

^{When asked what comes to mind first when Whitney Young is mentioned by name, Basic-Byrne smiles and says, “I think of that half-court shot two years ago."}

She had the Spartans close to the state title game in 2007, but their hopes were dashed in a semifinal setback. And, when asked who should would like to face in the state title game, Basic-Byrne said, “I could care less who we play. I would just love to get there.”

^{She doesn't concern herself with things like how her players would describe her style.}

^{“I don’t want to know," Basic-Byrne said. "I just hope that they are dedicated and know that I love them. I am hard on them, but they know I love them very much.”}

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