Chip Basso to step down as SV basketball coach

By Jim Muir

The Sesser-Valier Red Devils will have a new basketball coach when the 2013-14 season begins this fall.

Chip Basso, who also serves as the school’s athletic director, has submitted his resignation as basketball coach, effective immediately.

Basso, who has 18 years total in coaching at SV, including stints at the junior high, as a high school assistant and as head coach for four years.

Basso, who will remain as AD at the school, said “it’s just time” when asked about his decision to step away from coaching after nearly two decades. Basso said his son entering junior high next year was instrumental in his decision.

“Between being AD and coaching I missed several of his games last year and I need to be there for him,” said Basso. “When Danny (longtime former coach Danny Kirk) retired I took the job but it was understood that I wasn’t staying forever.  It’s just time for me to step away from coaching.”

In his first year as head coach Basso led the Red Devils to a storybook season that included a second place finish in the IHSA Class 1A state tournament in Peoria. During the course of the memorable post season run the Red Devils registered wins over an excellent Crab Orchard team, Meridian, an overtime win over Woodlawn in the super sectional and a win over state-ranked Madison in a semi-final match up before falling to Salt Fork in the title game.

The SV school board will meet Monday night (April 8) and is expected to accept Basso’s resignation. The job will be posted and made available to current school district employees before any consideration is given to an outside hire.