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,
I hope everyone has been having a good spring sports season despite the crazy weather this year. Rain and snow and more rain have made things difficult for all of you. So hopefully we are looking at great weather as we head into the post season tournaments. Good Luck to everyone!
Summer is just around the corner and that means plenty of summer camps, tournaments, 7 on 7 competitions, summer weight room and summer jobs. With that said, please be mindful of your athletes. As coaches we control how much we ask and expect of our athletes during the summer contact days.

Remember that it is summer, not competition season, and kids need a chance to be kids. I can’t be more emphatic about the time we are demanding of our athletes in the summer. Make sure that you plan your summer with your kids and their families in mind as well as your program needs. It’s a good idea, especially around the 4th of July, to plan some off days so that families can be together to celebrate the holiday. This year the 4th of July falls on a Thursday; try to schedule that Wednesday and/or Friday as off days with your athletes and their families. If we can reduce some of the stress on our athletes during the short summer months, it can only bring you rewards from your athletes in that they will be fresher with less burn out come August.

Also, don’t forget about camp insurance for your summer camps. There is information on the changes for summer camps that went in to effect two summers ago in this issue of the TORCH as well as information from our insurance carrier Loomis & LaPann, Inc.

Speaking of insurance, as of this August, if you are a member of the Illinois Coaches Association your liability coverage increases from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000! This is a great benefit to our members. If you are not a member yet you can enroll online at www.icacoach.org. Also, if your Athletic Director and/or Principal is interested in getting memberships in the ICA for the entire coaching staff, we are waiving the school fee for the coming year and only charging $9 per coach to join the ICA. That includes all the membershipbenefits as well as the $2,000,000 liability coverage.

I am very excited to announce a new section for each issue of the TORCH starting with this issue called, “From the IHSA”. Each edition will feature an article from a different member of the IHSA staff. We kick off this new section with an article from Executive Director Craig Anderson; be sure to check it out!

Good luck to everyone as you finish out your spring seasons and say good bye to your seniors. As always the ICA is here to serve all coaches in all sports! If there is ever anything that I, or the ICA, can do for you feel free to contact us anytime. Have a great summer and we will be back with another issue of the
TORCH in the fall!

Drew Potthoff
 

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 abou it
& the lasting impression we left on those who crossed our path.

Live each day with that in mind.

• 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.

Coaches

East

West

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. 

Marian Catholic High School (Chicago Heights)

MEN’S TRACK COACH
WOMEN’S LACROSSE COACH

A valid teaching certificate or ASEP certification, as well as experience, is required.

Please send resumes and inquiries to Athletic Director Kevin Kelly at kkelly@marianchs.com.

Rockford East High School

Head Volleyball Coach
Gary D Griffin CAA | Athletic Director/Head Football Coach
2929 Charles St.| Rockford, Illinois 61108
P: 815-489-7368 

Resurrection High School

• Head Girls Volleyball Coach
• Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach
• Girls Basketball Varsity Assistant
• 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

Email: soboad@yahoo.com

Twitter: ICA_Illinois

Caitlyn Walsh Chicago Taft High School

Ellen Fox Stockton High School

Erin Miller Saint-Joseph Ogden High School

Thomas Skahill Alleman High School

Hannah Tonsor Jersey Community High School

Paige Bennett Lewiston Community High School

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