PEORIA - Almost since Ray Giacoletti was named the Drake head coach in 2013, he decided it could be his final coaching job.
Upon his resignation Tuesday just eight games into his fourth season with a 1-7 record and 32-69 overall, Drake may well be Giacoletti's last stand.
"After 32 years of coaching, this is not how I wanted to end it," he said Thursday. "It's disappointing. But life ain't fair sometimes. There are not a lot of storybook endings for football and basketball coaches."
Still, if this is it for the East Peoria native, who was driving back here to visit family when I caught up with him by phone, it's not been a bad run at all, his Drake years notwithstanding.