Last March, Ryan Brown's coaching career reached a new height when he led the Annawan boys basketball team to its first state tournament appearance in the program's 70-year history.

Not yet 30 years old, though, Brown isn't one to be satisfied.

On Thursday, Sterling announced Brown as the school's next varsity coach after the school board confirmed the hire Wednesday night.

Brown isn't second-guessing his decision to leave Annawan, where he spent the past four seasons, but acknowledged the difficulty in departing.

"It was the hardest decision of my life," he said. "Annawan has been very good to my family, and that's something that I'm never going to forget."

"I'm ready in my mind for a new challenge somewhere else."

The Sterling position opened in mid-May following Peter Goff's resignation after six seasons. Goff left to fill the varsity boys basketball vacancy at Bloomington.

The Golden Warriors were 103-74 under Goff, winning a sectional title in 2007-08.

Brown is fairly familiar with the Sterling program and its personnel, coaching several players on the Illinois Magic AAU team.

Taking Annawan from 11 wins in his first season to 27 last winter especially impressed Sterling administrators.

"Obviously, his success had something to do with it, but we looked more at the progress he had made there," Warriors athletic director Nathan DeLany said. "To not only improve his win total, but it's how he prepared his kids."

In addition to his coaching duties, Brown also will teach P.E. in the high school.

A large senior class departed from the most recent Sterling team, including Illinois-bound Joseph Bertrand. That's offered Brown a chance to adapt to the varsity program alongside a group that went 26-2 as sophomores last winter.

Annawan placed fourth in the Illinois Class 1A state tournament in March, compiling a 27-8 record. Under Brown, the Braves were 79-44.