Fran Paradise has coached youth basketball for 12 years. He has worked with youngsters from the age of 6 to 18 years old and views athletics as a fun and practical tool to teaching the essential habits to a happy and successful life.

 

Fran has coached through leagues sponsored by the YMCA, several private youth recreational organizations, and a basketball club he started in 2000, the Spirit of Chicagoland. His choice of the SPIRIT name had several purposes, but to help teach values to his players he used the name as an abbreviation for Selfless, Preparation, Inspires, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork. The first two years the team was made up of 15 & 16 year old high school boys from the western suburbs. Both years this group achieved 3rd place finish’s in the Illinois State AAU tournaments and participated in the national AAU tournament. The program was expanded the following year to include elementary and junior high school age boys participating in the traveling basketball circuit.

 

Fran attended Downers Grove North High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball all four years. He earned all conference and all area recognition in all three sports. He continued his athletic career playing both football and baseball at Knox College. While at Knox he was a 4 year starter at quarterback, was selected twice as first team all conference, and was captain of the 1976 Midwest Conference Champions.

 

He and his wife have three sons, ages 18, 21, and 24. His son Ryan is currently a member of the Northern Illinois Huskies Men’s Basketball Team.

 

He understands that if a young player’s goal is to play competitively in high school, college, or professionally a solid foundation is essential. He recognizes that an ongoing skill development program is essential to being successful in basketball, but he also recognizes that the great coaches are the ones who can reach the students and to get them to also believe in these truths.