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.   

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

• 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.

Dan Sharp   Joliet (Catholic Academy)High School

Ken Leonard    Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) High School

Rich Montgomery, Athletic Director, Rock Falls High School

Neil Alexander, Boys Basketball, Lincoln Community High School

LeRoy Milsap, Boys Track & Field, Cahokia High School

Dan Iverson, Girls Cross Country, Naperville North High School

Mike Bare, Soccer, Peoria Notre Dame High School

Donna Dulle, Volleyball, Mt. Pulaski High School

Mike Hahn, Wrestling, Glenbard North High School

 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. 

Wearable Technologies Playing an Increasing Role in Athlete Performance Assessment

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

Resurrection High School

• Head Girls Volleyball Coach
• Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach

Candidates can send a resume, cover letter, and 3 references.  Email to ekane@reshs.org

Eddie Kane, M.Ed / CMAA | Athletic Director

Resurrection College Prep High School

LAKE ZURICH HIGH SCHOOL

•  Girls JV Lacrosse Coach for 2018-19.

Interested candidates can email a resume and letter of interest to Athletic Director Andrew Lambert – Andrew.Lambert@lz95.org

ASEP Certification or an ISBE license is required for employment.

•  Head Softball Coach for the 2019 season.  We have instructional aide positions available.  Interested candidates should apply at the following link:

http://www.generalasp.com/lz95/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Athletics%2fActivities

• Assistant boys lacrosse coach for the 2019 season. We have instructional aide positions available. Interested candidates should apply at the following link: http://www.generalasp.com/lz95/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Athletics%2fActivities

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

• 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

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

Gene Pingatore  Westchester St. Joeseph HS Boys Basketball

Jerry Cougill Retired Baseball

Henry Johnson accepting the HOF Award for Jerry Cougill

Drew Potthoff accepting the HOF Award for Gene Pingatore

Congratulations to the 2018 ICA Golf Coaches Hall of Fame!

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