Husband-Wife Duo Resign As Boys-Girls Coaches

Although it’s only March, the Maguires already are looking forward to Christmas.

Jason and Paula Maguire announced Tuesday that they are resigning as the basketball coaches at Lyons High School.

Jason has been the head boys basketball coach for the Lions for the past 13 years. Paula has been the head girls coach for the past two years.

“The biggest thing is being able to travel some as a family,” Paula said, adding that the family has not been able to travel over Christmas break in years.

Jason, 39, and Paula, 38, have two daughters, 11-year-old Maddi and 8-year-old Taylor. After giving so many years to Lyons athletes, they figured it was time to focus on their girls.

“We’re not getting home until 7 or 8 at night, for several months,” Jason said. “It’s not fair to (our daughters). We have zero time to spend with our own children.”

The Maguires have been heavily involved with Lyons High School for years.

In addition to coaching basketball, Jason is a physical education and health teacher. Paula teaches math and has spent more than a decade coaching either volleyball or basketball.

Both will keep their teaching jobs, and both insist they’ll continue to be involved with extracurricular activities at Lyons. Paula will continue to help coach the volleyball team as an assistant.

“I’m always going to be a part of the school, and I’ll definitely go to games,” Jason said.

Both coaches led their basketball teams to the Class 2A regionals this season. The boys team graduates 10 seniors. The girls team returns several players, and because of that, Paula said it was “tempting” to keep coaching.

“But it’s amazing how quickly your own kids change and grow, and they need you,” she said. “They’re just involved in more things, and that’s more things for me to miss.”

In the future, Jason said, there might be a return to coaching in store. But for now, it’s time for a change.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he said. “We really love the sport and love the kids and the relationships we built with them. But family is the most important thing.”