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Who are We?

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.   

Executive Director Column


Drew Potthoff Executive Director

 

Welcome to the ICA Website!

Hello Everyone!

I hope your fall sports seasons are going well. It has been 0ne year since I became the Executive Director of the Illinois Coaches Association and it has been a wonderful experience. Working with our great board members, fellow coaches and school administrators has been very rewarding. I am looking forward to this year to be even more exciting than last year.

As I reflect on our great profession one thing stands out to me this year in particular. What are we teaching our athletes? I have always believed that the title of coach and teacher are synonymous, no matter if you’re in the classroom or on the playing field. I came across a great quote from one of the selections in our Good Reads section in the Fall issue of the TORCH. Author Jim Afremow PhD, says in his book, The Champions Mind, “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”  That holds so true especially today.  

With all of the negative media about coaches at the collegiate levels getting fired and suspended for mistreating players and not having proper oversight of their programs it becomes vitally important the we as high school coaches take care of our athletes. We must teach our athletes more than just the fundamentals, skills and strategies of the sports we coach. The young people we serve must learn integrity, respect and character.  Those are the foundation fundamentals of what the coaching profession is built on. The only way they learn from us is if we model these behaviors every day with our athletes in everything we as coaches do.

Good luck to everyone this fall and this entire year with your teams and your athletes. I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the year at the state tournaments, clinics and All Star events. The Illinois Coaches Association is here to help you anyway we can. If you need something please do not hesitate to contact us.

Drew Potthoff

What Do We Do?     

  • Sponsorship of All Star Activities in Football and Baseball since 1975 
  •  Newsletter 'TORCH' for Coaches at least 3 times annually 
    • Contains All-Star Nomination Forms and Clinic Registration Info 
    • Contains application form for ICA Scholarship 
  • Clinics in Golf, Wrestling and Track 
  • ICA Golf Hall of Fame 
  • Awards to All State Championship Coaches 
  • Meritorious Service Awards to retired coaches upon nomination and selection. 
  • Serve the Illinois High School Association by helping in various activities. 
  • Make nominations to the IHSA for participation on Sports Advisory Committees. 
  • Offer Five $750 Scholarships Annually to High School Senior sons or daughters of members.

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2019 All Star Football Shrine Game

Dear Coach,                                                                         

Over the past year over 240 players were nominated for the 2018 ICA Shrine Game.  Of those 240, a committee of over 20 high school head coaches from all over the state used the information supplied by nominating coaches to select the final number of 88.

The prestige of being recognized by their coach is quite an honor in itself.  Therefore, every player will be notified of the selection in late December, with a copy to their coach.  We have been told that being selected to play in this game is a highlight in the player’s high school career.   

Please nominate the players from your school you would like to have considered for the 2019 ICA Shrine All-Star Football Game.  Your input is needed to make the selection fair and equitable.  ICA Shrine Game rules limit the roster to one player per school, so please make sure to nominate the caliber of men that will represent your school and team well.  Your nominations should be players you consider among the top football players of character, talent, and academics in the entire state of Illinois.  We are looking for All-State, First Team All-Conference, and Academic All State Players.  A nominated & selected player must graduate with his class and had played in at least four games in 2018 season.  They also must accept our invitation to participate within 30 days of notification. 

 In order for your nomination to get proper consideration by the selection committee, we need to have your input in my office by December 1st.  Late nominations sent to us from December 1st to December 7th will not be included for selection on the initial roster but can be included for replacement players.  No nominations will be accepted after December 8th.

Sincerely,

Dave Jacobs

ICA Football Chairman

Jodi Schoeck Awarded NHSACA Golf COTY

2019 NHSACA COTY Finalists Honored in Sioux Falls

Pictured left to right:
Bill Salentine, Jodi Schoek, Rob Murphy

Dorothy Gators                 Girls Basketball                                 Chicago Marshall
Jodi Schoeck                      Golf                                       Barrington HS
Perry Peterson                 Softball                                 Barrington HS
Bill Salentine                         Boys Water Polo               Naperville Central HS
John Artman                      Boys Track & Field            Illini West HS
Rob Murphy                       Wrestling                             Wilmington 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 Sioux Falls, South Dakota on the evening of June 27, 2018. 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. 

Coaches Corner Article

Wearable Technologies Playing an Increasing Role in Athlete Performance Assessment

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

COACHING OPENINGS

 

 

Monticello High School

This position could include teaching Health and Drivers Education. 

Starting salary with no experience and BS degree is $41,309 including TRS plus full singe health insurance and life insurance paid by the district.

Girls locker room supervision required. Coaching opportunities are available:

 

FRANCIS PARKER HIGH SCHOOL

Varsity Boys Tennis
Varsity Girls Softball
Varsity Boys Baseball
Contact: Robert Starks, Athletic Director
773-797-5160 (office)
773-797-5597 (Fax)
bstarks@fwparker.org
Olympia High School – Stanford Illinois
 

PECATONICA HIGH SCHOOL

HEAD BASEBALL COACH
Applicant must be ASEP certified or hold a valid Illinois Teaching License or Substitute License. If interested please send email or letter of interest to Kevin Kunkel, Activities Director, Pecatonica High School
kevinkunkel@pecschools.com

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TEACHING POSITIONS AVAILABLE
 

HEAD SOFTBALL COACH
Applicant must be ASEP certified or hold a valid Illinois Teaching License or Substitute License. If interested please send email or letter of interest to Kevin Kunkel, Activities Director, Pecatonica High School
kevinkunkel@pecschools.com

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TEACHING POSITIONS AVAILABLE

 

 

 

Plans for the Future

  • 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

1510 Seneca Court  Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: 815-405-3821 
Email: soboad@yahoo.com

Twitter: ICA_Illinois

ICA_Illinois IL Coaches Assoc ICA_Illinois

ICA Student Scholarship

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 $750 scholarships every year.

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, 2019

ICA Representatives Enjoy NHSACA Conference This Summer in Souix Falls

ICA Class of 2018 NHSACA Hall of Fame Inductees

Gene Pingatore  Westchester St. Joeseph HS Boys Basketball

Jerry Cougill Retired Baseball

Henry Johnson Accepts HOF Award for Jerry Cougill

Henry Johnson accepting the HOF Award for Jerry Cougill

Drew Potthoff Accepts HOF Award for Gene Pingatore

Drew Potthoff accepting the HOF Award for Gene Pingatore

2019 NHSACA National Coach of the Year Nominations

COMING SOON!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the 2018 ICA Golf Coaches Hall of Fame!

Rich Gordon, Jack Halpin, John Hamann, Jess Kruger, Daniel Polites


2018 ICA Golf Hall of Fame Inductees

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