Palatine High School Names Head Girls Basketball Coach

Mark Johnson has been named head girls basketball coach at Palatine High School. Johnson, an assistant girls basketball coach with the Pirates, will take over the responsibilities of the school’s girls hoops program from Leslie Schock, who stepped down after five years as head coach.

“We couldn’t be happier with Mark’s selection to lead our girls basketball program,” said Palatine High School Principal Gary Steiger. “Mark’s student-centered and a quality person.  He’s the kind of person you’d want working with not only your student-athletes on the court, but your students in the classroom as well.”

Johnson, a social studies teacher at PHS since 2002, was in his second stint coaching the Pirates freshmen “A” girls basketball squad, having coached the team from 2003-2004, and then again since 2011.

His 2012 team was Mid-Suburban League West Division co-champions. He served as sophomore girls basketball coach for 2004-2008, being crowned MSL West Division champs in 2006.  He began coaching girls basketball at PHS in 2002-2003, serving as a varsity assistant and JV coach.

Johnson is head coach of the Pirates boys golf team, a position he has held since 2008.  From 2008-2010, he was the sophomore boys basketball coach, and also coached sophomore boys golf from 2002-2008.

“Mark relates well with both student-athletes and parents alike,” said PHS Athletic Director Jerry Dobbs.  “His enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge of the game make him a perfect fit for this job.  We’re really looking forward to the direction he’ll take our girls basketball program."

Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bradley University in 1995.  He received his Illinois teaching certification from Chicago State University in history in 1999, and a master’s degree in American history from Roosevelt University in 2006.  He was a social studies teacher at Beecher High School (Beecher, Ill.) from 2001-2002, and was head coach of the school’s girls basketball team from 1995-2002.  During that time, his squads won five River Valley Conference North Division championships, and were the 2002 regional champions.

He also served as a varsity assistant baseball coach (1997-1999, 2002) and varsity assistant softball coach (200) at Beecher High School.

Information submitted by Palatine High School.