Nearly 2,000 turn out for Hoopsfest to fundraise for Fremd's coach Yates, who's recovering from brain surgery

As one of the premier girls basketball coaches in Illinois, Dave Yates has supported untold high school athletes who have played in the Fremd gymnasium over the past two decades.

On Sunday afternoon, everyone at that gym was in support of Yates, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor on April 24.

Yates returned to the site of many of his 385 wins at Fremd for Coach Yates Hoopsfest, a community fundraising event in support of Yates and his family that drew nearly 2,000 people.

With many fans wearing “Yates Strong” T-shirts, the coach was greeted by a standing ovation when he walked into the gym before the 5 p.m. alumni game featuring many of the greats who played on his teams.

Yates led Fremd to the Class 4A state crown in 2020, runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016, and fourth place in 2014.

Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz spoke of Yates' prolific coaching experience and the many lives he touched.

“This an unbelievable tribute,” said Schwantz, a Fremd grad and former linebacker for the Bears and Dallas Cowboys. “People don't realize it's not just his girls basketball teams, but he coached those boys from 2017 (fourth in the Class 4A state tourney) in feeder all the way from when they were in fourth grade until eighth grade. So he had a big hand in coaching some of the younger boys in this community as well.”

Money was raised Sunday through raffles, two-ball competition for boys and girls, and skill camps in the back gym before the alumi took the floor.

Organizers of the event were Mark Sheehan, Chris Melton, David Sobel, Anita Lee, Nate Adams, Jason Hogrefe and Fremd Athletic Director Hamid Mehreioskouei.

“It's a complete team effort and a testament of what Dave means to the community,” Mehreioskouei said. “We're a big family here at Fremd and everyone has pitched in . We had more than 60 volunteers, from community members to teachers, doing anything we can do to help support Dave and his family.”

Organizers Sheehan, whose daughters Ally (2020) and Jill (2022) played in the alumni game, and Melton wanted to put an event on for Yates, and each spoke to his wife, Kathy.

“Kathy said, ‘Why don't you work together?' so we had others who wanted to help and we've (all seven) literally been friends from the start. Quite frankly, some of us were strangers to each other. We had to work together and it became a perfect group.”

“Everyone keeps asking how did you guys do this? Melton said. “But Dave did this. He created all these followers and people. We just put a frame around it and he took care of it from there. He knows everybody.”

Yates appreciated everyone who put together the special day, which included giving away five tickets to a Schaumburg Boomers game, a Coach Yates Hoopsfest medal and a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant in town.

“It's great to see all the people who hopefully you made an impact on their lives,” Yates said. “It's very cool to see this support from the whole community for myself and my family. It's a tough time but we are going to fight through it.”

That's the same attitude you'd see from Yates' teams over the years that won eight Mid-Suburban League championships, many by the girls who played in the alumni game — including former Fremd great Emily Klazcek who fired home a 35-foot 3-pointer late in the game.

“This (event) is amazing,” said former Fremd and Duke standout Haley Gorecki. “You see all the familiar faces who have come out and supported him and it's just great. He meant so much to a lot of people. Mr. Yates meant the world to me. It's hard for everyone but I think it's really cool seeing the whole community help out the whole family and just staying strong for them.”

Grace Tworek was a standout on Yates' 2015 state runner-up teams before playing at Harvard.

“This was really unexpected and it's honestly really sad, but obviously it just shows how many people love and support him any way we can,” said Tworek, now working in commercial real estate in Chicago. “I'm playing in the alumni game and I didn't think I would do that. Hopefully, he can get a laugh out of that and it will be fun.”

Former standout Bryana Hopkins, who played on both state runner-up teams, is also working in Chicago for a nonprofit organization.

“Coach Yates meant so much to me and the entire community and girls basketball in the Chicagoland area,” said Hopkins, a Northwestern grad. “He was my coach since middle school and had such a big impact and was so supportive and helpful to me on my recruiting process and getting to Northwestern. I wouldn't be where I am today and have had the opportunities at Northwestern and my career without him. He was a huge part and I'm so thankful for him. This event is amazing. Just to see all the people and all the lives he has touched is so cool.”

In all, nearly 20 girls were back in the alumni game, including Taylor Glassman, who played on Yates' first team in 2006. “It's a testament to who is that he has been so successful for all these year on and off the court,” Glassman said. “He's the greatest guy.”

Fremd principal Mark Langer said the school wanted to do something to bring the whole community together.

“We wanted to show support for Dave, who has meant so much to the school, for the community and all the people he has impacted throughout his career,” Langer said.

The Palatine and Fremd communities have been contributing to the Yates family via a GoFundMe campaign which began when organizers began forming the event three weeks ago. The link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/dave-yates-battle-fund.