Coach Jamere Dismukes announced via social media Tuesday night that he’s stepping down from his position at Homewood-Flossmoor High School boys basketball coach. He told The Chronicle that he’s pursuing a new opportunity but wasn’t able to give any details, yet.
“It’s the right time. I have career goals that I want to try to reach. I’ve got things that have always been my dream, things like going to the college level,” Dismukes said. “I just felt like this was the perfect time to go chase that dream after everything we were able to accomplish.”
The move came as a shock to the local basketball community. Dismukes came to H-F from Rich Township before ever coaching a game there in 2022. H-F was 81-22 under Dismukes, including the 2023-24 Class 3A state championship. He was named IHSA coach of the year that season.
Several Vikings players also moved on to play college basketball, most notably early graduate and North Carolina State signee Bryce Heard. Heard has since transferred to Dayton.
following their coach, Jamere Dismukes, trophy held high, for a celebration
Sunday, March 10, 2023, of the team’s accomplishments.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Guard Gianni Cobb was named first-team all-state after the state title campaign before playing in the Ivy League at Columbia. He’s since transferred to Northern Illinois. Dismukes said he’s most proud of helping every player who wanted to play in college do so.
Dismukes spoke with the current team before going public with the decision.
“There were mixed emotions. Some kids really wanted to play for me. Some of them were probably happy because they know how tough I am as a coach,” he said. “My seniors were excited for me and my future, so there were just a lot of mixed emotions.”
Dismukes said he was leaving now in the hopes that H-F had adequate time to find a replacement in time for summer basketball.
“I’ve been coaching for 12 years now but the last three years have been the best three years of my career, not just because we won but because of the love and support that I saw (from the H-F community). Everybody here at H-F accepted me for who I was. Nobody tried to change me or make me coach differently, even when we were 18-14,” he said. “This was a hard decision. I didn’t go to H-F but I truly believe that I’m a Viking now.”
Vikings Athletic Director Matthew Lyke said the search for a new coach begins immediately.
