PREP ZONE: Hawkins to fulfill dream with North Stars

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Plenty of job applicants talk a big game about how much they want the job.

Lindsey Hawkins gave up hers to prove it.

Hawkins relinquished her full-time position as an instructional assistant at Vernon Hills to become St. Charles North’s new girls volleyball coach despite no teaching positions at North being available.

The teaching quandary gave Hawkins pause before accepting but the 24-year-old St. Charles East graduate could not resist the chance to return to St. Charles.

“You can’t even imagine how good it feels to have your dream come true in your hometown. ... I just couldn’t pass this opportunity up,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins’ first day with the North Stars comes today when North’s summer camp schedule begins. She replaces Lindsay Trudell, who opted to step aside during spring break after six seasons. Among other time-related factors, Trudell has a November, out-of-state wedding to plan.

Hawkins was known as Lindsey Linkimer, her maiden name, when she played at East. She was a late-season junior call-up when the Saints won a state championship in 2001 before starting for the Saints as a senior.

Needless to say, it’ll feel a bit strange when Hawkins coaches her first East-North match against her mentor, Saints coach Jennie Kull.

“She is one of my main inspirations for even becoming a coach,” said Hawkins, who coached the Vernon Hills sophomore girls volleyball team and freshman boys team the past two years.

“A lot of the things she taught me back when I was a player, they have transferred over into my career as a coach. ... She is a great motivator of all of her players. She really cares about her players as more than just volleyball players. They’re people to her. She cares about them, and she shows that.”

Hawkins has followed her alma mater closely over the years, including the Saints’ most recent state title last year. Kull said she has a picture of Hawkins in her office, and had hoped to one day add Hawkins to her East coaching staff.

“This is better because now she can be at the helm of a really quality program,” Kull said. “There is so much potential at North, and she will work really hard to make sure she gets the best from the kids. I’m so excited about having her there.”

Hawkins, a utility player for East who played collegiately at Augustana, said she was surprised to be called for an interview at North, given her age. North athletic director John Rutter considered Hawkins “extremely well-spoken, very organized, very enthusiastic” and said Hawkins “has a great plan in place.”
Hawkins hopes her other plan – finding a teaching job soon – also materializes.

“I don’t know but I sure hope so,” Hawkins said.

Kaneland update: Kaneland athletic director Leigh Jaffke confirmed Tuesday that the school has reached an unofficial agreement with a new boys basketball coach but declined to identify the new coach until the school board approves the hire next week.

The Knights need new boys basketball and softball coaches after former coach Dennis Hansen resigned under pressure following a school investigation into his behavior. Summer workouts for the Knights were expected to begin this week.

• Jay Schwab is sports editor of The Chronicle.He can be reached at 630-845-5382 or jschwab@kcchronicle.com.