Jim Thomas
Wheaton Heat Director and Head Coach
Instructor Jim Thomas gained coaching experience at the grade school and high school levels while assisting the camp directors at Augustana College, University of Wisconsin and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has assisted younger children in the development of fundamental basketball skills and concepts and has worked alongside NBA staff as well as Illinois Hall of Fame Coach, Chips Giovanine. Jim is in his second season as the Sophomore Boys Basketball Coach at Wheaton North High School. In his first season of the Wheaton Heat, Jim’s 16U team qualified for the National Tournament in New Orleans. Jim’s 4th Grade Heat team in 2006 went undefeated and won their league at the Bulls Sox Academy.
Mike Thomas
Coach
Coach Mike Thomas is in his fifth season with the Wheaton Heat. Mike has extensive basketball playing and coaching experience. He played Division II basketball at St. Norberts College. Mike coached youth basketball for two years while as a grad assistant at St. Norberts College and has coached basketball for boys and girls in grades 5-8 for the past seventeen years in Wheaton. For the past five years, Mike has coached AAU basketball for boys in grades 6-12.
Drew Carstens
Coach
After an outstanding high school career in which he was named All-Conference/All-Area/All State at Downers Grove North High School, Drew Carstens attended Augustana College where he earned NCAA Division III All-American honors during 2000-2004 seasons as well as being named Team MVP. Drew was his team’s leading scorer all four years and was the second leading scorer in school history with 1,813 points. After college, Drew coached Varsity Basketball at Narzareth Acadmey in 2005-2006. He is currently playing for the Elgin Racers in the International Basketball League.
Patrick Cunningham
Coach
While he was the starting point guard at Downers Grove North for three years (1998, 1999 and 2000) Pat Cunningham was named All Conference in 1999 and 2000 and played in the Super Sectional in 1999. He received a basketball scholarship to St. Francis University in Joliet, Illinois. Pat has extensive coaching experience including being a summer basketball coach at Downers Grove North High School, the Basketball Camp Coordinator at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange and is currently a basketball coach at Hale Elementary School in Chicago.
Steve Kollar
15U Coach
Steve has played high school basketball at Wheaton North and college basketball at Elmhust College. Steve has worked college summer camps around the nation (Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Illinois...etc). Steve has coached traveling teams ranging from 6-8th grade. He is currently teaching at South Elgin High School and is the head coach of the freshmen boys.
|
