Highwod Small Fry Basketball OM

International Champions 1997, 1998 & 1999

Founded 1969

Heat Varsity Head Coach Verne Reich – Coach Reich begins his 25^th year with Highwood Small Fry and his 36^th year coaching area junior high and high school basketball teams. His Small Fry finishes include 3 International Championships, along with 8 additional final four appearances. His overall Highwood Small Fry record is 380 wins and 152 losses. His teams’ post season record since 1985 is 62-25. Coach is in the promotional products business with Done Deal Promotions in Morton Grove and lives in Highland Park with his wife Betty. When he’s not coaching the Heat he can be found coaching his granddaughter Nicole’s travel basketball team, the Elmhurst Airborne or cheering on his other granddaughter Allie’s Cross Country and Track career at York High School. His daughter Bonnie holds the distinction of being a fan at all 25 International Tournament that Verne has coached. Coach is also a member of the Highwood Small Fry Board of Directors.

Heat Varsity Assistant Coach Kevin Kaminsky – Kevin starts his 8^th year w/ Highwood Small fry as the Heat asst coach.  Kevin was a 3 year varsity starter at New Trier and led his team down state in 1996.  He played college basketball at Eckerd College in Florida and Carthage College in Wisconsin.  He currently works full time running athletic programs for the Park District of Highland Park.  He spends his summer s as an assistant Director at Camp Horseshoe and is the Head Director of Camp Horseshoe Basketball Camp.

Rookie Purple Head Coach Dale Fijalkowski – Coach Fijalkowski returns for his 5th season with Highwood Small Fry.  Dale’s experience includes coaching for numerous programs – AAU, travel, Park Districts, schools, camps and clinics coaching boys and girls teams from grade school thru high school levels.  For the past thirteen years, Dale has been coaching for the Highwood All-Star program.   Dale lives in Vernon Hills and is very involved with his family, which includes his wife Lori, his daughter Jennifer, who is the varsity  coach for the American International School in Egypt girls high school  basketball team, and son Casimer, a Small Fry alumnus, who is currently attending Loyola Marymount University.

Rookie Purple Assistant Coach Mike Burke -

Rookie Purple Assistant Coach Lori Fijalkowski –

Rookie Blue Head Coach Rob Nardini - Coach Nardini is entering his 5th year with Highwood Small Fry.  He is a Small Fry Alumni from the 1973 team.  Coach Nardini is currently the head freshman girls basketball coach at Vernon Hills High School. He has spent the last 12 years coaching youth basketball at various levels.  He enjoys spending time with his wife of 22 years Leslie, His daughters Laura(Winona State University), Alison (University of Illinois), and son Robby. Coach Nardini is very excited to be working with Highwood's Blue team in 2008 and is looking forward to a great season.

Rookie Blue Assistant Coach Gil Degand - Gil Degand is entering his second season coaching Highwood small fry, and his 4^th overall with the small fry program.  He was a coach for the Glenbrook Rookie teams prior to joining the Highwood program.  He attended Highland Park High School, where he played soccer all 4 years.  After Highland Park he attended the University of Illinois. Gil has two younger brothers, one of which was a member of the Highwood Blue rookie team and of the Highwood Varsity team. Gil hates writing about himself, so if you would like to know more, just come up and say Hi.

Rookie Gold Head Coach Jim Bernardi -

Rookie Gold Assistant Coach Cooper Annenberg - Cooper is entering his 1st year as a coach, currently a junior at Highland Park High School, played Small Fry for 4 years, came in 2nd place in the Friendship Tournament on the Hurricanes in 2003, came in 7th on the Heat in 2004, also played Freshman and Sophomore basketball at Highland Park, works at the Park District of Highland Park for Coach Kaminsky.
 

Last modified: Saturday April 28, 2007 10:48 AM