A New Era Begins
Clay Henricksen, who spent 13 years within the Huntley girls basketball program—including nine as Steve Raethz’s varsity assistant—was named head coach in April, inheriting a legacy that includes 505 career wins and five consecutive Fox Valley Conference championships.
Raethz stepped down after a 27‑season tenure that made him the winningest coach in McHenry County history. Henricksen, a Huntley native whose wife Erin graduated from the school in 2009, expressed deep gratitude for the trust Raethz placed in him and emphasized his commitment to preserving the program’s standards.
The team returns a core group that helped the squad to a 9‑0 summer, highlighted by strong defense and continuity. Key players such as Alyssa Borzych, Avery Suess, Lana Hobday, Evie Freundt, Kenzie Oates and Kara Giordano are expected to lead the charge.
Henricksen’s personal ties to the community run deep; his wife played under Raethz, and the couple shares two daughters, Quinn, five, and Emma, soon to be two. Their family’s connection to Huntley adds an extra layer of motivation as he takes the reins.
Beyond the court, Henricksen has spoken of his desire to give back to the program that shaped him, noting that the experience has been both rewarding and humbling. He also acknowledged the support of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and his academic roots at Loras College.