Reinstate Coach John Maniatis (Coach M)

Coach John Maniatis, exceptionally known as Coach M, was dismissed as a coach and teacher from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, IL in May of 2014. This has had a negative effect on his players, students, the program, and the community over the past year.

He has always put his players first and worked hard to make them the best player and person possible. He was a passionate coach and really cared about the girls he coached. He made sure academics was first and basketball was second to pursue the use of basketball for an avenue to receive a college degree.

Under Coach M, Hillcrest has won 15 regional, seven sectional, and three super-sectional titles. In 2010 and 2011 he finished second in the state in class 3A and returned to the state finals for a third consecutive season finishing third in 2012. He has never had a losing season. From 1996-2004 Hillcrest won 87 consecutive conference games, the third longest streak in IHSA history.

He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014, received Coach of the Year award numerous times, was nominated for a Golden Apple Award, and received an Excellent Evaluation 22 of 24 years of teaching, was also listed as Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

He has put countless hours into the sport, the program, the community and the school.