In the spirit of this season, we’re uplifting the impact of being Distinctive through alumni voices. This couldn’t ring more true than with CICS Loomis-Longwood alum-turned-basketball-coach Kurt Shannon and his commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him.
Kurt joined the CICS Loomis community as a second grader where his teacher affectionately called him “College Kurt” for his love of wearing his grandmother’s glasses to school. As a Loomis-Longwood student from 2nd grade through senior year of high school, Kurt’s love of basketball began in 8th grade when his godfather introduced him to the sport. His passion grew as he watched his godbrother rise to the NBA, and by his sophomore year, Kurt trained intensively throughout the summer with Coach Keys, forming a bond that would shape his future.
With Coach Keys’ mentorship, Kurt earned All City Defense and won the City Wide Dunk Contest, and he was part of the CICS Longwood High School conference-winning White South Conference team! After graduating, Kurt continued his partnership with Coach Keys by traveling the country with Team More Athletics. This partnership continued to fuel his love of the game, and eventually earned him a full ride scholarship to East West University where he got to fulfill his dream of playing college basketball.
His educational and basketball journeys led him to a career in education and coaching, where he now acts as the JV men’s basketball coach for CICS Longwood High—right where his journey began alongside Coach Keys, inspiring the next generation of basketball players. And like Coach Keys, Kurt’s approach to coaching is holistic, pushing his players to use basketball—or any passion—to open doors to a brighter future. “I want them to go to school for free, get out of Chicago, and become men,” Kurt shared.
Kurt’s vision for the team delves into building a legacy of excellence and resilience and, in turn, creates the conditions for a winning team. “I know we will win state this year. The hard work and dedication they have—I just know.”
Thanks to Kurt’s leadership, he’s able to both teach the game of basketball and the game of life, helping his students to dream big, work hard, and believe in themselves—just as his teachers and coaches in the Loomis-Longwood community did for him. “Now that I’m older, I see that [the Loomis-Longwood community] really cared for me and set me on the right path to be the person that I am today,” Kurt expressed. “Teachers loved me and saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself—especially Coach Keys. I will always stand behind Coach Keys.”
Welcome home, Kurt! Your story continues to inspire every life you touch.