Ellett steps down as Hampshire girls basketball coach

Sue Ellett has resigned her position as girls basketball coach at Hampshire after a wildly successful seven-year run.

Ellett took over in 2004 and led the Whip-Purs to a 30-4 mark and a second-place finish in the IHSA Class A State Tournament. Her teams were 151-53 over those seven years and had only one losing season during that span.

This season, Hampshire finished 29-2, losing to Oswego in the Class 3A DeKalb Sectional championship game. The Whips were 53-7 over the past two season.

"This is not something that the administration wanted, but we respect Sue's reasons for resigning her position as the girls head coach," Hampshire principal Chuck Bumbales said. "Sue has been the consummate professional in her tenure as our head coach. It has been a pleasure to watch her work with the young ladies of Hampshire High School. Our players are not only better basketball players but better citizens and people for being a part of this tremendously successful program."

Ellett will continue at Hampshire as a math teacher. Hampshire soon will start looking for Ellett's replacement.

"Sue is a tremendously hard worker," Whip-Purs athletic director Dave Hicks said. "The program's success rests upon the fact that our girls worked hard and were always prepared for the upcoming opponent. Sue's team reflected her values; the were hard workers who never let up."

– Joe Stevenson