Devils’ Rasile takes a breather

March 29, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

McDonald

After eight years of panting and screaming on the sidelines until he was hoarse, Jeff Rasile is ready to take a breather.

The long-time McDonald High boys basketball coach announced he will resign from his position effective immediately.

Rasile said several factors contributed to his decision. But ultimately, he just needed some time away from the game.

“There’s lots of reasons. I’m tired. I’m exhausted,” Rasile said. “And this isn’t one of those spur of the moment decisions, it’s been lingering for the last year, year and a half.

“But it’s all about me. It’s not about the kids or the school or anything. It’s just I need to take a breath.”

Rasile led the Blue Devils to 164 victories — more than 20 per season.

This season, the team won its first regional game before falling to eventual state champion Berlin Hiland in the regional championship.

But it almost never happened.

Rasile confirmed he and his staff, which has several members that have been with him his entire coaching career, had decided to leave after last season.

But three key senior players — brothers Nick and Justin Rota and Matthias Tayala — convinced Rasile to come back for their final campaign.

Rasile said he informed the team of his official decision at its postseason banquet Sunday.

“We were going to give it up last year, but we came back,” he said. “And thank God we did.

“Some of the underclassmen — and their parents — were a little disappointed. But the school will hire someone new, and they’ll forget about me soon.”

Maybe not. The Blue Devils just completed their third straight 20-0 regular season.

Rasile said one reason, though admittedly not the only one, weighed the heaviest. He lives in McDonald but teaches in the Champion school district. While he’s seen so many players grow during the years, he’s missed out on one in particular — his son, Zach.

Now a third-grader in the McDonald schools, Zach, 9, has a passion for the game, much like his father — anyone who has seen Rasile on the sideline can confirm he’s into it. That hasn’t changed.

Rasile said he wants to be there for his son, and two daughters Bethany (11) and Maria (5), as they continue to grow into their own sports.

“It’s a huge part of the decision. My son is a basketball junkie and just loves he game,” Rasile said. “It’s hard to spend two hours at practice every night, and then come home and want to spend another hour practicing with Zach.

“I want to spend the time I’m spending with [the McDonald players] and spend it with my son.”

Rasile was very candid about love-hate relationship with practice. Well, maybe more of a hate-hate relationship.

“I absolutely do not like going to practice,” he said. “When I was young, we went because we played.

“As a coach, you hate it. I haven’t played basketball for the past three or four years. But I love the kids, and I love the game. But the practices and the summer work just wear on you.”

Especially for a teacher, who must sacrifice essentially vacation time for the sessions.

“I don’t want to resent basketball or the kids for me being there in the summer season,” he said.

And then there’s the games.

Rasile’s intense, animated coaching style is appreciated by players, embraced by fans and questioned by outsiders. And all of the yelling, and running and sweating beat him up.

“I literally feel like I played the game. If we play a big game on a Friday, I’m in a chair all of Saturday,” he said. “People tell me to relax, and I should. But it’s not so easy to do that.”

Rasile said he does not have any intention of coaching next year, despite rumors he has offers lined up — including one about a college position.

But he has his administrative certificate and wouldn’t rule out coming back for the right opportunity to be an administrator and coach.

But for right now, it’s time to focus on himself and his family.

Unless, you know, that right fit comes up.

“If Duke calls me tomorrow, we’re gone,” he said with a laugh. “The family is going.”