P.J. Sweeney steps down as girls’ basketball coach at Clear Creek Amana

Clear Creek Amana has a healthy girls’ basketball program.

Credit P.J. Sweeney.

“I think I’m leaving the program in a better spot that I received it,” Sweeney said Wednesday, upon confirmation that he has resigned as head coach after 11 years.

Sweeney, 56, exits with a 167-82 record, highlighted by a Class 4A state championship in 2024.

That team went 26-0.

“The timing is right,” he said. “I thought about this last year, but as the (2023-24) season progressed, I stepped back and realized, ‘I’m not ready to leave.’

“When I got to January and February this season, it just felt different.”

This team, dominated by juniors, finished 15-8 and reached the 4A regional finals.

Sweeney’s successor will inherit a team that returns 97.4 of its scoring, led by the all-state guard tandem of Averie Lower and Lena Evans.

The Clippers are ranked No. 5 in The Gazette’s preliminary preseason rankings for 2025-26.

“There are a lot of mixed emotions. It was hard to tell the team,” Sweeney said. “There was some disbelief, some shock from the kids, but it was time.

“With all of the out-of-season stuff — the summer and fall leagues stuff and the camps — it’s a grind. It’s time for someone else to take the reins.”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com