There's a notation about Brett Goff in the Rate My Teacher website where one former student wrote: "Really nice guy, very calm, anyone who doesn't like him is stupid." Another former student agreed, noting "he is the nicest guy you'll ever meet."
Besides being a guy with an easy going nature, the Sycamore man is many things: a husband, father of four (three girls and a boy), a driver's education instructor at Sycamore High School and a Youth Basketball League director. He is also, after many years of coaching boys' basketball, the Lady Spartans' varsity girls' basketball coach.
Born in Morrison, where he played basketball and baseball, Goff played basketball for two years at Sauk Community College before graduating from Illinois State University, the alma mater of basketball great Doug Collins.
Goff taught and coached at Sycamore High School for five years before relocating to Forreston High School for two years, where he coached the boys' varsity basketball team to a 46-10 record, before returning to Sycamore.
"I don't think (then athletic director) Tim Carlson would have let me come back if I wasn't so successful," Goff joked.
Over the years, Goff has coached high school softball, middle school football and basketball, including the youth and high school levels. He is most known for coaching boys' basketball. In five years with the Spartans, from 2002 to 2007, he compiled a record of 95-40.
After serving as an assistant coach with the SHS girls' basketball team last year, he is replacing Ryan Picolotti as head coach. Ironically, Picolotti is switching to the boys' varsity, where he will be an assistant coach.
The Lady Spartans officially opened their season Tuesday against Ottawa. They will compete in Burlington Central's annual Thanksgiving Tournament, which starts this Saturday and concludes on Wednesday.
Goff took a few minutes from his busy schedule to talk about basketball and the difference between coaching girls and boys with MidWeek reporter Doug Oleson last week.
MidWeek: Did you miss coaching?
Brett Goff: I did. It's in my blood. I enjoy basketball, whether I'm playing or coaching.
MW: Is this the first time you've coached a girls' basketball team?
BG: In 1995-96, my second year here, I was an assistant on the girls' team. We went 13-12, I think.
Then, when I left (the boys in 2007), I began coaching my oldest daughter for the Fury travel team for girls. I've done that for four years. It's fun to see how much they have improved.
MW: So how did it come about that, after coaching boys for so long, you're now the head coach of the girls' team?
BG: I was an assistant for the girls last year. When a position opened up, I went to (then head coach) Ryan Picolotti and talked to him about it and he said it would be fine. ... Ryan wanted to be in the boys side of it and when an opening came up (on the boys' varsity this year), he jumped at it.
MW: How did you guys do last year?
BG: We were 14-13.
MW: How many kids do you have out this year and how many are returning letter winners?
BG: We have 13 and six were with us last year.
MW: Who are those coming back?
BG: We have Lake Kwaza, she's a senior, at guard; Olyvia Rand, a senior forward; Ashley LeClair, she's in her third year on the varsity, another senior guard; Megan Mollman, senior forward; and two juniors who played on the varsity last year, Lauren Miller and Caitlin Mereness, two more guards.
We'll have good senior leadership, both on and off the court.
MW: What about the rest of the team?
BG: We have Bailey Gilbert, Julia Henning, Kieley Leach, Rita Lesniewski, Julia Moll, Jessica Mollman and Emerald Vaughn.
MW: Sounds like you have a lot of guards.
BG: Just like those boys' teams. We'll need to get the ball up and down the court so the other teams can't set up their half court offenses.
MW: I know you haven't played a game yet, but who do you think will be the teams to beat?
BG: Judging from last year, DeKalb and Rochelle will be very good, so will Kaneland.
MW: Is there a big difference between coaching boys and girls?
BG: There is in some aspects. The girls play a more pure game, the way it was supposed to be played, under the basket.
MW: I've always thought that the girls played better together than the boys. By that, I mean you seldom see that one kid take over a girls' game the way you do with the boys.
BG: It's more of a team game. You don't see a girl go off and score 40 points a game. Nothing against the boys, but the girls don't have their own agenda. They listen to you and try to do what you tell them. It's more of a team atmosphere.
The boys are more interested in watching ESPN and when they see a good move, they want to try it the next day at practice that may not suit what we do. The girls know more of their limitations.
MW: I know your one daughter does, but do your other kids play basketball?
BG: My oldest, Lauren, is an eighth grader who played on the seventh-grade team last year. I hope she plays on the team this year. Haley is 9 and plays (but not as much). My youngest, Elizabeth, is just 2.
MW: I have a two-part question: Do you think your oldest daughter, who is quite a player, got interested in basketball because of you?
BG: I think so. We used to take her around a lot. She saw my passion for it. She loves to play now and plays as much as she can. It's fun for me to watch her play.
MW: Secondly, on the other hand, did you get into coaching girls basketball because of her?
BG: Well, yes, for the most part. (Pauses.) It may be a little selfish of me but I was afraid I'd miss watching her play (if I coached the boys).
I did what I did with the boys program and I think I left them better than when I found them. and hopefully I can do the same with the girls.
MW: So any goals for this season?
BG: We want to be competitive and we just want to improve. But we had a rough summer, record-wise. It will be a challenge for our lack of height.
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