Viking basketball Head Coach Mitch Dorr will be switching teams this winter, as he will become the girls’ varsity head coach. Dorr will replace Todd Toulouse, who moved to take a new teaching position closer to where he and his wife have family. Pat Eliasen, a deputy sheriff with the Cook County Sheriff ’s Department, will take on the boys’ varsity coaching duties.
Dorr is no stranger to coaching the girl’s team. From 1998 to 2004 Dorr was head coach for girls’ basketball, compiling a 101-49 won loss record, with one state appearance in 2001.
In 2005 Dorr took over the boys’ program. “I coached the boys for nine years. In the beginning, it was a lot of rebuilding, but in the past four years we were 53-34.
“Why did I leave? There is a long answer, but in short: As a school we were looking to find two coaches that would give us long-term stability. I think Pat and I can provide that. I also had to take into consideration that I have three elementary boys of my own coming up and I had to decide if I wanted them to be coached by their dad for six months straight between football and basketball in back-to-back seasons.
“In addition, I didn’t really see this move coming this year. I really wanted to coach the boys’ team as I have some great relationships with the players and I think there will be some building taking place after losing four seniors.
“However, I have complete confidence that Coach Eliasen will succeed as the boys’ coach. I know that I would fully enjoy watching him coach my own boys and think his voice in their life will lead to their growth as young men.
“I am really excited about the basketball coaches for both the boys’ and girls’ programs. Pat Eliasen will be fantastic and he has a great assistant coach in Rick Crawford. They are tremendous coaches and role models.
“I am very excited for a new challenge and am extremely blessed to have Rachel Bohnen as an assistant coach. In addition, Kelly Senty will be joining our staff as an assistant coach. We all look to coach our student athletes and to help build programs that make our community proud.”
With four of the last year’s starting five graduated, Eliasen will be in a rebuilding year. Gone are all-conference guards Kale Boomer and Colin Everson. Also graduated are Peter Warren and Justin Goldstein, both tough defenders and in Goldstein’s case, a very good 3-point shooter. The lone returning starter is Jonny Jacobsen, who missed most of last season due to injury.
Still, Eliasen is excited to get the chance to fill the head coaching position and is looking to have kids join the program. In terms of wins and losses, this might not be a great year, said Eliasen. But in terms of setting up a new offense and trying different defenses, this will be a good year for players to learn new systems without a lot of pressure to win placed on them.
“I’m not sure what kind of defense we will play. Maybe a lot of zone, depending on who joins the team. On offense, I hope to have the kids screen more, pick and roll and get to the basket. But we need kids to come out. I know a lot of kids are banged up from football and they need a break. But I hope to get some of them to join the team when they have recovered. No matter what, it should be a fun year. I hope to be coaching the boys for a long time,” said Eliasen.
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