{"url":"https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paidsocial&utm_campaign=Smartly_CMM&utm_creative=Davenport&fbclid=IwdGRjcARD7aVleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQAAAZZXCgwn3NydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgBxpwqHDZK9SjyE7y0U0IwgMn0yuBUIubpvx7z2eIrOwIq5N0zX4emo6S_h_aem_-CkijYG9Q936qd0AdvkcKw&campaign_id=6957572490759&ad_id=6980867237559&utm_id=6957572490759&utm_content=6980867237559&utm_term=6958510287759","title":"Three Quad-City basketball coaches step aside","domain":"qctimes.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/2116469/pexels-photo-2116469.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"high school basketball coach","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"a4371b12","id":"a4371b12-f91b-4542-9250-acb3c7704241","description":"Three Quad-City high school basketball coaches announced they are stepping aside after the 2025-26 season.[[1]](https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/bask","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Three Quad-City high school basketball coaches announced they are stepping aside after the 2025-26 season.[[1]](https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html)\n- Steve Hillman retires from Pleasant Valley boys after 23 years and 300+ wins, while Katelyn Hallgren steps down from Moline girls after two seasons and a 25-8 record.[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)[[3]](https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/local-sports/qcsportsnet/breaking-news-moline-girls-basketball-coach-katelyn-hallgren-stepping-down)\n- Changes signal end of long tenures and new starts for programs in the Mississippi Athletic Conference area.[[4]](https://www.facebook.com/qctimes/posts/a-flurry-of-activity-this-past-week-saw-three-local-high-school-basketball-coach/1576859651114064)\n\n## The story at a glance\nThree high school basketball coaches in the Quad-City area - Steve Hillman of Pleasant Valley boys, Katelyn Hallgren of Moline girls, and one other girls coach - are stepping aside following the recently ended season. The article by TJ Johnston in the Quad-City Times, published April 4, 2026, reports on this flurry of offseason moves. These departures come as spring sports begin, prompting searches for replacements in local Mississippi Athletic Conference programs.[[1]](https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html)[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)\n\n## Key points\n- **Steve Hillman (Pleasant Valley boys)**: Coached 23 years total at the school, last 18 as head coach; over 300 wins, six conference titles, four state tournament trips including 2015 runner-up.[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)\n- Previously coached eight seasons at Geneseo and one at Luther College, where he was senior MVP as a player.[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)\n- **Katelyn Hallgren (Moline girls)**: Served two seasons; turned program around from 5-23 to 13-17 then 25-8 in 2025-26, first regional title in 12 years and most wins since 2009-10; stepping down for family with child on the way, pending board approval April 16.[[3]](https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/local-sports/qcsportsnet/breaking-news-moline-girls-basketball-coach-katelyn-hallgren-stepping-down)\n- One additional local girls basketball coach is departing, though specific name and school not confirmed in available coverage.[[4]](https://www.facebook.com/qctimes/posts/a-flurry-of-activity-this-past-week-saw-three-local-high-school-basketball-coach/1576859651114064)\n- Moves reported as a group in Quad-City Times amid post-season transitions.[[1]](https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html)\n\n## Details and context\nThe Quad Cities straddle Iowa and Illinois along the Mississippi River, with schools like Pleasant Valley (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Moline (Illinois) competing in the Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC). Hillman's long run made Pleasant Valley a consistent contender, with state appearances highlighting his impact.[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)\n\nHallgren's quick success at Moline came after a prior role at Assumption High School; her exit aligns with family priorities, as noted by athletic director Todd Thompson.[[3]](https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/local-sports/qcsportsnet/breaking-news-moline-girls-basketball-coach-katelyn-hallgren-stepping-down)\n\nThe third coach remains unidentified in secondary sources, but the article frames all three as recent announcements tied to the end of winter sports.\n\n## Key quotes\nSteve Hillman: “Doing things the way that I was taught and I believed that were the correct way as far as how you treat people and how you interact and having high expectations and working hard... All those things that are great life lessons and kind of trying to hold true to those as a coach as well.”[[2]](https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans)\n\nMoline AD Todd Thompson on Hallgren: “Coach Hallgren did an exceptional job leading the Maroons the past two seasons. She will be missed on the sidelines but I cannot be happier for her and husband Billy Hallgren as they start the next phase of their life with a child in the upcoming months.”[[3]](https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/local-sports/qcsportsnet/breaking-news-moline-girls-basketball-coach-katelyn-hallgren-stepping-down)\n\n## Why it matters\nLocal high school sports programs lose experienced leaders, affecting team culture and performance in competitive MAC play.\nPlayers, parents, and schools face coaching searches that could shape next season's prospects amid roster changes.\nWatch for official hires and the unnamed third coach's details as spring transitions to fall practice.","hashtags":["#highschoolbasketball","#qcities","#iowa","#illinois","#sports","#coachingchanges"],"sources":[{"url":"https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paidsocial&utm_campaign=Smartly_CMM&utm_creative=Davenport&fbclid=IwdGRjcARD7aVleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQAAAZZXCgwn3NydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgBxpwqHDZK9SjyE7y0U0IwgMn0yuBUIubpvx7z2eIrOwIq5N0zX4emo6S_h_aem_-CkijYG9Q936qd0AdvkcKw&campaign_id=6957572490759&ad_id=6980867237559&utm_id=6957572490759&utm_content=6980867237559&utm_term=6958510287759","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://qctimes.com/sports/high-school/basketball/article_6ab272fb-84a5-42e3-8794-dfa7a6f5fe64.html","title":""},{"url":"https://www.kwqc.com/2026/04/07/pleasant-valley-basketball-coach-steve-hillman-retires-after-23-seasons-with-spartans","title":""},{"url":"https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/local-sports/qcsportsnet/breaking-news-moline-girls-basketball-coach-katelyn-hallgren-stepping-down","title":""},{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/qctimes/posts/a-flurry-of-activity-this-past-week-saw-three-local-high-school-basketball-coach/1576859651114064","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-09T02:27:34.402Z","createdAt":"2026-04-09T02:27:34.402Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-04T20:22:00.000Z"}