Girls Basketball: Biggins bids goodbye

Bob Biggins doesn’t like to bring much attention to himself, which is why the veteran Oak Park-River Forest coach casually mentioned after a game last month that he was retiring after the season.

Biggins said he knew it was time to go shortly before the season and told the team a few weeks after the regular season started.

Biggins agreed to answer questions via e-mail about his career from staff writer George M. Wilcox:

A. I have been at OPRF for 15 years. I started as the freshman assistant or “B” coach. I had coached at Ascension (my alma mater) for 10 years prior to coming to Oak Park.

Q. How did you hear about the position?

A. I did this by answering a want ad for a part-time coach at OPRF in the Oak Leaves.

Q. You don’t teach. What is your full-time job?

A. I’m a licensed stationary engineer, which means I’m involved in building operations and maintenance. I’m a member of the Local 399 Stationary Engineers Union. I work at the Franklin Center, directly across the street from Willis Tower. Fortunately, I work the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift so being at the high school by 3 hasn’t been too much of a problem. I have also maintained the 1 Gale condo building in River Forest for the last 18 years. This is for an hour or two per day.

Q. How has the time commitment affected your family?

A. I have three children that I coached at Ascension. All played multiple sports and all graduated from OPRF. I came into Oak Park at the same time my daughter Courtney did in 1997. I also have two sons, Kevin and Donnie. My wife Colleen is the LD (Learning Disabled) chairperson at OPRF, starting there in 1999 after 20 years in the Berwyn school system.

She has always been supportive and actively involved with my coaching, especially when our children were involved. I also was an assistant baseball coach at OPRF for seven years with Lin Hancock at the sophomore level. For those years, I went from basketball directly to baseball.

Q. How has your staff helped over the years balancing your full-time job with coaching?

A. I’ve had tremendous support from my staff at Oak Park and could not have taken the head position without them. I went from three years as the freshman B coach to one year head freshman coach to five years as the head sophomore coach and then head varsity coach the last six years.

I have rarely scouted to be honest with you, but (assistant) J.P. (Coughlin) and Jeff Plane, our sophomore head coach, have been to countless games. Those two have also watched vast more amounts of video than I, especially J.P. I have always done summer camps and leagues, though I’ve stepped back quite a bit when I became head coach. Most of these camps run in the morning, so I’ve always been in the 3-5 slot, which is usually junior high kids.

This has been possible due to tremendous help from all of our coaches: J.P., Jeff, Dave Crisp, Doug Hill, Jen Stinnich, Lindsey Pietrzak, as well as in previous years with John Terretta, Faith Cole and John Laurence. All wonderful coaches with me. We also employ current and former players in those camps.

Q. How did you know it was time to step down?

A. I’ve had a very hectic life the last 25 years at an incredible pace. It’s a great time to step away. I’m healthy. I still love coaching and I’m ready to lead life at a somewhat slower pace. My wife will retire in two years and I’d love to be home for and prepare dinner for her and enjoy her company in a more leisurely fashion.

Q. What will you miss most?

A. First, I’ll miss the relationships with coaches, referees and parents. The athletic department has been wonderful and so supportive of me. I’ve worked with countless coaches of both sports over the years. I’m not sure I can list them all. I love basketball and baseball and intend on watching numerous games of both. Mostly, I will miss the players, especially the girls.

There is something truly special about seeing a young woman grow in confidence and ability. The friendships with all those I’ve been involved with is a treasure I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’ve tried to instill in players the notion of winning with class, losing with dignity, and always trying your hardest.

I always have believed that sports should be fun, not an obsession. I had the opportunity to coach at both my grammar school and high school alma maters; to stay in Oak Park my while life to raise my family here and I’ve loved every minute of it. As adults, we should embrace the exuberance of youth, enjoy their laughter, resilience and desire to learn. It keeps us young.

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