A State Coaching Organization that is intent on representing all coaches of the state of Illinois. Founded 1928; continuous service to date. National Affiliation - (NHSACA) National High School Athletic Coaches Assoc., (NOCAD) National Association of Coaches Association Directors, (NHSFCA) National High School Football Coaches Alliance   

Hello Everyone and Welcome to the ICA Website! 

To say that last year was challenging for coaches, athletes, parents, school administrators and the Illinois Coaches Association would be a huge understatement. As we launch into the 2021-2022 school year, I hope everyone is safe and healthy. It is so exciting to see sports in Illinois back in full swing this fall. The feeling of seeing the kids and coaches on the fields and in the gyms again is one of exhilaration and pride. We still have obstacles and challenges to overcome as we progress through this year, but the resiliency of our coaches, athletes, school administrators and the Illinois High School Association will see us through to a very safe and successful year.

A huge shout out to Craig Anderson and his IHSA staff for standing steadfast in supporting our athletes and coaches throughout all the ups and downs that we experienced last year. To be able to finish the 2020-2021 year with our athletes being able to compete is short of phenomenal. With their diligence and commitment to high school sports, the IHSA and their Board of Directors guided everyone through the stormy waters of last year. On behalf of the Illinois Coaches Association, I say thank you and great job IHSA!

I am happy to say that the Illinois Coaches Association has also weathered the storm of last year, and we are on our way back serving all the coaches and athletes in all sports in Illinois. We made it through last year without having to cut any of the benefits we offer our memberships, including still being able to award all six scholarships for members’ children. Check out the winners on our scholarship page in this issue of the TORCH.

We are very excited to let you know that we are adding an awesome new benefit to the already great list of membership benefits. All our members are eligible to exclusive FREE access to Coach & Athletic Director magazine, which includes the All-Sport Education Series from Proactive Coaching – Coaching for Significance. This new benefit includes:

• FREE year-long access to digital editions of Coach & Athletic Director Magazine
  • Normal Digital Subscription – $9.95 annually per coach
• FREE Podcasts featuring Proactive Coaching Series – Coaching for Significance
• Eligible to submit photos to Coach & Athletic Director Magazine of facility upgrades, sideline coaching, and in game action shots for an opportunity to be featured in issues of the publication.
• FREE year-long access to digital editions of Training & Conditioning Magazine

See the complete offerings for this new benefit on the ICA Benefits Page in this issue.

As always, the Illinois Coaches Association is here to serve the coaches and athletes of all sports in Illinois. If there is anything we can help you with, please feel free to contact me. Have a great fall season and a great school year!

Now is that time to renew your membership in the ICA if you have not already done so. We are still offering the same school and sport association discounted membership at $9.00.

Drew Potthoff
Executive Director
Illinois Coaches Association

Coaches, in the end, our career W/L record just won’t matter. 
It won’t be what we will want others to remember us by. 
All that will matter will be who we helped, how we went about it
& the lasting impression we left on those who crossed our path.

Live each day with that in mind.

• The ICA Newsletter ‘The Torch’ times a year
• $2,000,000 Liability Insurance Policy
• NEW! FREE access to Coach & Athletic Director magazine digital editions, which includes the All-Sport Education Series from Proactive Coaching – Coaching for Significance. 
• Discount on Accident/Medical Insurance for participants in sports camps (Available to Illinois Coaches Association Members Only)
• Illinois Coach of the Year Awards and membership in the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA)
• Eligibility of Son or Daughter to Compete for one of five $750 Scholarships Annually
• Eligibility of Son or Daughter to compete for our new “Memorial Scholarship” for $500
• Eligibility to nominate athletes for the ICA/Shrine Football All Star game & All Star Baseball game
• Sponsorship of All Star Activities in Football and Baseball since 1975 
• ICA Golf Clinic and Golf Hall of Fame Banquet
• Serve the Illinois High School Association by helping in various activities. 

Coaches,

It is with great enthusiasm that your Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) offers our first ever Virtual Clinic to be held Tuesday, December 8th through Saturday, December 12th! This will be in place of our in person clinic in the spring since we all hope to be playing!

YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! 

We are so thankful and blessed as we have over 100 champion and legendary speakers from every college level (FBS, FCS, D2, NAIA and D3), as well as, champion and legendary high school coaches from all over the country!  Kurt Warner, NFL Hall of Fame and Super Bowl Champion, will speak as well as Big 10 head coaches (Pat Fitzgerald NW and Mike Locksley Maryland).  Former Illini Head Coaches Lou Tepper, Ron Turner, and Ron Zook will also speak!  We have a strand of former Illini players that are now head coaches in Illinois (I).  These are only a few of the highlights! 

All of the zoom clinic presentations will be recorded, so if you are unable to watch them live you will be able to watch them later!

When you register early, you will have access to all presentations for only $75.00! After the early registration deadline it will be $100.00.

Click on this link to start your experience!  You will be amazed!  PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR ASSISTANT COACHES AND OTHER OUT OF STATE COLLEAGUES.

https://ihsfca.coachesclinic.com/

If you need to pay by school check for IHSFCA Virtual Clinic please mail to:

Kevin Crandall
1137 Barbary Ct.
Rochelle, Illinois 61068
attn. IHSFCA

Make check payable to:  IHSFCA

Thanks!
Dave Jacobs and George Turnbull/IHSFCA

Brien Dunphy         Athletic Director       Peoria High School

Tim Funkhouser   Baseball                           Edwardsville High School

  David Power         Girls Basketball          Fenwick High School 

John Naisbitt           Tennis                             Hinsdale Central HS

 Eight finalists from across the nation, in nineteen recognized sports categories will be honored during the National Coach of the Year Awards Banquet which will take place at the NHSACA’s national convention in Linocln, Nebraska on the evening of July 23, 2020. The highlight of the banquet will be the naming of the NHSACA national coach of the year in nineteen recognized sports categories.

All Illinois coaches were nominated for this national honor by the Illinois Coaches Association. The selection is based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years, and winning percentage. The nominees and finalists are evaluated by experts in the field of coaching using a sport-specific rubrics to assign points in each category.

 NHSACA is the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978. 

West Team
Ken Leonard- HFC   Sacred Heart Griffin
Todd Chance              Sacred Heart Griffin
Todd Hollis                  Elmwood (Brimfield Coop)
Brian Melvin              Burlington Central
Jack Cornell               Quincy Notre Dame
Tim Heinz                    Illinois Valley Central-Chillicothe

East Team
Albert Cruse-HFC      Chicago Public League
Josh Jostes                      Maroa-Forsyth
Michael Harrison        Belleville East
Matt Music                     Olney Richland County
Dan Wetzel                    Herscher
Rich McMahon            Rochester (former PORTA HFC)

Wearable Technologies Playing an Increasing Role in Athlete Performance Assessment

Article submitted by:
Ken Jakalski, Boys Track Coach at Lisle High School. 

• To Expand All Star Competition to include other sports 
• Continue on-going professional relationship with existing coaches groups throughout the state and nation 
• Improve opportunities for all athletes and coaches throughout Illinois 
• Continue expansion of Awards Program to honor deserving coaches and athletes 

ILLINOIS COACHES ASSOCIATION

Serving All Coaches in All Sports
Email: soboad@yahoo.com

Twitter: @ICA_Illinois

2021 ICA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Nicholas Johnson   Homewood-Flossmoor 

Landon Zurliene       Fairfield High School

Kyleigh Block            Villa Grove High School

Sydney Hartoin        Triad High School

Isabelle Neville         Canton High School

2021 Tim "Mo" Caldwell
Memorial Scholarship Winner

Ella Bolling   Homewood-Flossmoor HS

For the twenty-third year that the ICA has  scholarships available to a son or daughter of a member.  Students compete for one of five ICA $750 scholarships every year. Also this year we start a new scholarship offering the Tim "Mo" Caldwell Memorial Scholarship for $500.

Students application process includes an essay, academic standing and recommendations by school personnel. The screening process is handled by the ICA Board of Directors.

Application Deadline is April 5, 2021 for ICA Scholarships

Application Deadline is January 25, 2021 for the Tim "Mo" Caldwell Memorial Scholarship