Coaching changes on both sides of town will give the Crosstown Classic boys basketball game in Oswego a new look next season.
Oswego East’s Steve Szymanski and Oswego’s Matt Borrowman both stepped down from their posts in the last week, although both will continue to teach — and coach — at their respective schools.
Szymanski has led the basketball program the last four years since taking over in 2013 when Ron Murphy left to become athletic director at York. The Wolves finished 15-12 last year.
Szymanski also has been varsity boys soccer coach for the past 10 years and will continue in that capacity this fall.
“To be honest, the time commitment is one of the major factors,” Szymanski said. “I’ve been doing both for so long it seems like I’ve put my personal life aside. It’s nothing but soccer and basketball for nine months of the year.”
Various aspects of the job, especially with two programs, weren’t as enjoyable.
“Dealing with (players’) grades, discipline, parents and scheduling meant I was coaching less and less,” he said. “I felt like I was doing more coaching my first year out of college working with sixth graders.
“Some parents think you show up for an hour and a half every Friday night. A lot more goes into it.
“It was tough. I don’t know if I’m completely done with basketball, but I’m not leaving Oswego East.”
In the meantime, Szymanski opened the summer basketball camp and will direct this weekend’s Oswego East shootout as athletic director Bobby Kaminski begins the search for a replacement.
Szymanski thinks sophomore coach Ryan Velasquez would do a good job with the varsity.
“He puts in more time than some varsity coaches and is definitely ready and eager,” Szymanski said.
Staying on: Borrowman is not done either, despite having decided to step down after three seasons as head coach for personal reasons.
“We finalized things Friday afternoon, but I’m staying in the program,” Borrowman said.
Assistant athletic director Mark Johnson confirmed that assistant coach Chad Pohlmann would be promoted and Borrowman will continue as varsity assistant.
Borrowman was a varsity assistant to former head coach Kevin Schnable for 10 seasons before taking the reins for the 2014-15 season. His teams compiled a record of 46-41 and won a Class 4A regional in 2016.
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Pohlmann coached Oswego’s varsity girls program eight years, highlighted by a Class 3A fourth-place finish in 2010, before moving over to assist Borrowman in 2015.
“He’s a fantastic coach and one of my best friends,” Borrowman said. “I think we’ll be able to continue to work well together.”
Pohlmann has thought about becoming a boys varsity head coach, but said he didn’t know if the opportunity would come at Oswego or another school.
“I guess it’s one of those things that happen,” he said. “Matt has to do what’s best for him and his family. We have a great relationship, both personally and professionally, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Oswego plays at Oswego East’s shootout this weekend and in two weeks heads to the Hoops Mountain West Shootout that is hosted by Batavia for the second year in a row.
H-BR names coach: Seth Sanderson, who played at Indian Creek, has been named to succeed Bill Sambrookes at Hinckley-Big Rock.
Sambrookes, who also served as athletic director, retired at the end of the school year.
Sanderson went on to play four years at Beloit, graduating in 2015. He then served as an assistant varsity coach at Winnebago.
Twitter @RickArmstrong28