Coach Stamas Brought Glory To Brother Rice High School Basketball

CHICAGO – Conte Stamas, whose leadership over the past three seasons has brought unprecedented success and pride to Brother Rice High School basketball, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Stamas joined Crusader Athletics in August 2022. In just three seasons, he is credited with building a basketball program grounded in discipline, brotherhood, and excellence. His teams compiled an extraordinary combined record of 92-16, winning back-to-back Regional Championships in the 2022–23 (30-5) and 2023–24 (31-4) seasons. In the 2024–25 season, the Crusaders reached new heights, finishing 31-7 and earning Regional, Sectional, and Super-Sectional titles, ultimately placing 2nd in the state—one of the finest finishes in school history.

In recognition of his exceptional leadership, Coach Stamas was named the Chicago Sun-Times Coach of the Year for the 2024–25 season.

“This was the most difficult decision of my 43-year career. I love Brother Rice — the administration has been incredibly supportive, and I’ve been blessed to work with such great people and players,” Stamas said in his announcement. “I’m going to miss the day-to-day practices and the relationships that made this experience so special. I’m not leaving to coach anywhere else. I truly can’t think of a better place to end my career than at Brother Rice.”

Brother Rice Athletic Director Sean McBride said the search for a new head basketball coach would begin shortly.

“We are seeking a leader who will continue to build upon the strong foundation of our program, uphold the values of our Catholic mission, and inspire excellence both on and off the court,” McBride said.