Mike Greco instructs his players during a game this past January. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Hopkinton High School girls basketball coach Mike Greco is stepping away from his position after 11 seasons at the helm and 23 years with the athletic program.

“It was a really, really tough decision, one that I wrestled with for a long time, going back a number of seasons,” Greco said. “I love coaching. I love being a part of the program and working with the kids. But as my own kids have gotten older, it was harder to balance things and give attention to being a varsity coach as well as being a dad.”

Ultimately, Greco said he could not devote the time he needed to both endeavors, citing everything from practices to games to offseason camps and clinics. Greco has three children, ages 4, 7 and 9, and they are interested in sports as well.

“I couldn’t do the job the way I think it should be done,” he said. “It came to a point this year when I decided that this was going to be my last season.”

Greco, who was the HHS boys junior varsity basketball coach for nine seasons before taking the girls job in 2015, said he has had a lot of on-court highlights over the years, including a trip to the state final in 2018.

“That was a great experience for us,” he said.

The best part of the job and what Greco said he will miss the most are the relationships he was able to form with his players over the years.

“It’s so much different than in the classroom where you get a kid for a semester or a year,” said Greco, who is a math teacher at HHS. “Some of these girls I was fortunate enough to coach for four years. I knew them as little kids coming to our summer camps and they became varsity players who ended up working with us and coaching the next generation.”

HHS assistant Mikayla Pucci played for Greco a decade ago. Another former player, Calli Korbey, coaches the eighth grade team.

Greco was happy to be able to go out with the group he has had over the past two years.

“I had so much fun with these last couple of teams,” he said. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t waver during the season a little bit, especially as it was winding down. It was a great group.”

Greco added that he will miss being at practice even more than competing in games.

“You get to be with the kids, just you and your team in the gym,” he said.

Greco helped coach his daughter’s second grade basketball team this past winter and is helping out with his son’s tee-ball team this spring.

“Whether or not I get to coach them, or just be a fan on the sidelines, I am looking forward to being around more,” Greco said.