This wasn’t like Dan Batka.

Usually quick with a quip or straight to the point with on-target analysis or wise counsel, Batka was struggling for words last week.

An assistant boys basketball coach at West Aurora for the past 12 seasons under Gordie Kerkman and then Brian Johnson, Batka was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame with the 2021 class in the career coaching category.

“When you get into the business, you’re not looking for accolades,” Batka said. “You just want to do right by the kids.

“I’m going into the hall the same year I’m retiring from teaching, and it’s pretty humbling to even be considered. I’m grateful for the honor.”

Batka has been doing right since jumping into the business with both feet in 1990. He started at Conant in Hoffman Estates as the freshman B-team coach for Tom McCormack, a fellow Hall of Fame selection who coached his teams to 576 wins in 33 years.

Between then and now, Batka has learned a lot.

“Dan just has this unique ability of knowing what to say, no matter the situation,” Johnson said. “It goes beyond X’s and O’s, even though he’s extremely smart when it comes to that aspect of the job.

“If we’re struggling and I ask him to speak to the team at halftime, after a game or during practice, he’s spot on. Or if he just needs to have a conversation with a player, he’s able to do that, too.”

Batka connects with the players.

“When we have players come back, their faces light up when they see Dan,” Johnson said.

Kelvin Balfour, a West Aurora graduate and current freshman at Iowa Western Community College, tweeted after learning the news: “Well deserved, always pushed me to be better. He helped me so much throughout my senior year, more so off the court than on. Even when we didn’t see eye to eye, it never affected the strong bond we have. Congrats.”

And Batka has loads of experience.

He coached Conant’s sophomore team his second year before moving on to teach health and coach at Proviso West, directing the freshman team for one year and sophomores for four years to a combined 89-20 record.

It helped him land the Lake Park varsity job, which he held from 1997 to 2007, winning four conference and five regional titles and compiling a 162-122 record before taking a sabbatical to watch his son’s games.

A Batavia resident, he became a dean at Lake Park, and the coaching break was short-lived. Batka returned to coaching after his son gave up basketball.

Batka joined Kerkman’s staff in 2009 when Johnson left West Aurora’s staff to become the head coach at Kaneland.

“I was very impressed with Dan,” Kerkman said. “I remembered the first time I saw him coaching the sophomores at Proviso West when I was scouting. He really helped our program and was a great contributor to any success we had.”

Paul Kieffer has been the other constant, serving as a varsity assistant during 16 of his 22 years in the program. Batka and Kieffer were both on the bench when Kerkman notched his 800th career win.

“Paul and Dan are close and we’re all good friends,” Johnson said. “We have three head coaches in my opinion.”

Even during his sabbatical, Batka coached younger players in Batavia’s feeder program.

At West Aurora, he’s been on board for four conference, six regional and four sectional championships.

“I’m very, very blessed to have learned from some of the best coaches in the state of Illinois and also to have my wife and son’s blessing,” Batka said. “I’ve never really had a winter off.

“As it is, I think I’ll continue as long as Brian wants me and I’m healthy.”