Varsity Basketball Head Coach, Phil LaScala has announced his retirement from his coaching career at LFHS. Known for his passion and dedication, the 19-year coach had one of the most successful and respected careers in Lake Forest athletics history. 

LaScala began his coaching career at LFHS in 2005 where he was named the Varsity Head Coach. In his first few seasons, the Scouts struggled, but showed improvement over a three-year course. However, the 2008-2009 season marked the shift of Scouts basketball. LaScala coached the Scouts to his first Conference Championship where they accumulated a 10-1 conference record, and a 22-5 overall record. The team was led by Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Matt Vogrich, and together he and LaScala set the new standard for Lake Forest basketball.

“He created [the environment] by demanding it,” current Head Assistant Coach Joe Harmsen said. “If you were not going to do what it took to get on the court and play, moreover win, you were never going to play or win.

No matter the season, that standard applied throughout LaScala’s career.

Amongst these four excellent seasons for the Scouts, the 2014-2015 season was undoubtedly the most impressive. LaScala and the Scouts put together a 35-3 overall record with a 13-2 conference record, as well as finishing seventh in the state per MaxPreps. The three losses all year: Stevenson. 

The most successful season under LaScala just so happened to be the same year back-to-back Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks starting point guard, was a senior. The team was pioneered by Evan Boudreaux who later played at Purdue University after graduating from Dartmouth College.

This four-year stint of Scout success added on to LaScala’s resume of winning seasons and championship plaques. At this point, LaScala coached Lake Forest to one NCS Championship as well as three Regional Championships in the 4A division.

It wasn’t until after COVID when Lake Forest was moved into the 3A division and ended the couple-year streak of shallow playoff basketball. Although the state didn’t hold a playoff in the 202-2021 season due to COVID, it’s still worth mentioning the Scouts’ 12-4 overall record and 6-1 conference record. 

However, post-COVID is where LaScala and the Scouts found the most success. These final four years were the most consistent in LaScala’s entire career at LFHS. All four seasons resulted in 20+ wins for the Scouts, two of which consisted of Conference Champions as well (2021-2022 & 2023-2024). Not only that, but in his final four years as the Head Coach, LaScala won four straight Regional Championships and appeared in three Sectional Finals.  

That doesn’t come by accident.

LaScala continuously put winning teams on the court through preparation and diligence. His drive to push his players to the maximum directly reflected in consistent playoff success.

“We are always held to a high expectation when being coached by LaScala. All of us are in an environment where it becomes very easy to get better individually and as a team,” said senior Hudson Scroggins.

Coaches with the passion, diligence, and commitment like LaScala’s don’t come around very often. His knowledge for the game is exceptional, but his personal characteristics as a coach mainly attributes to his excellent career. LaScala never lowered player expectations, always pushing players to be the best versions of themselves. No matter your role on the team, he always emphasized doing things right while giving 100% effort. He devoted endless hours of preparation to create an effective game plan to give his team a competitive advantage. But one of, if not his most valuable trait: his desire to win. LaScala’s unmatched competitiveness and hunger to win was a trait any sports fan admires. Whether it was a summer league game or a Sectional Championship, LaScala did everything he could to come out victorious. 

“He is a tremendous coach with great players. When you have a guy that can get the most out of his dudes you have a winner,” Harmsen said.

Although players dictate the outcome of the game, the influence LaScala had before and during games is reflected in his amazing career at LFHS.