Andriano not calling it quits just yet

Back in 2010, in the press box of Champaign’s Memorial Stadium after Montini had won its second straight Class 5A championship, a reporter asked Broncos coach Chris Andriano how long he’d stay as coach. Two more years, Andriano said, capping his Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame career after 2012.

Wait a minute.

The 34-year head coach, whose record improved to 244-117 with last year’s 70-45, three-peat 5A title win over Joliet Catholic, has decided to coach at least three more seasons, through 2014.

“They restructured my contract. I was a free-agent holdout,” he said jokingly.

There was some truth to that. According to Andriano, who retired as a full-time physical education teacher after 2009-10 and taught part-time the past two years, he requested other duties such as lunchroom supervisor and substitute teacher — “maybe 15, 20 days a year” — to supplement his coach’s pay.

“They pieced together some things for me,” he said.

“Football’s been my passion in sports, so that’s what I wanted to keep doing if I can,” he said. “I’m still healthy, so I’ll do it a couple more years if I can after this.”

Montini’s braintrust loses one key component after this season, however. Offensive coordinator Lewis Borsellino, whose spread offense keyed the last three titles, is done after this season.

Leaving with the last class from his former Lombard Falcons youth team — including son Joey Borsellino, a multitalented senior and college prospect — Lewis also would like more time to follow daughter Brianna, a sophomore soccer player at Northwestern.

“He’s done an amazing job, an unbelievably great job,” said Andriano, whose own son, Matt, may be in line as Borsellino’s successor. “We’ll definitely miss him. He’s put together one of best offenses in the history of the state.”

A man who’s put together one of the state’s best programs, John Belskis, is in his final year at Downers Grove South. A 2010 inductee into the IHSFCA Hall of Fame, Belskis enters his 24th season with a mark of 197-57. If the Mustangs get it done, he’ll win No. 200 in Week 3, Sept. 7 at Morton.

Say what you want about the strength of the West Suburban Gold, or lack thereof, in 23 seasons Belskis’ teams have failed to reach the playoffs only once, in 1996. In 1993 his Mustangs finished second in 6A but the highlight, of course, was the 34-31 shootout win over Naperville Central for the 8A title in 2001. The barrel-chested Belskis and his firm handshake will be missed.

Four-peat?

Montini graduated superstar receiver Jordan Westerkamp, receiver Anthony Taylor, quarterback John Rhode, impact linemen Jim Lowery, Josh Rogers and Jaleel Johnson and top tacklers Franklin Bruscianelli and Mitch Lydon, among others.

There’s more in the tank for a Broncos team seeking a fourth straight state title.

“We’ve got a lot of great kids coming back,” said Andriano, who would join Joliet Catholic’s Gordie Gillespie, Mt. Carmel’s Frank Lenti, Providence’s Matt Senffner and former friendly adversary Tim Racki of Driscoll should Montini wrangle a fourth straight championship.

“I think we’re faster on overall team speed,” he said. “We’re definitely wiser from the experience from the last three years. The leadership in the off-season has been outstanding, the attitude and the work ethic is all there. Now it’s just a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together and getting the right guys in the right places and making sure we’re continuously trying to get better.”

The coach said a defense offering returnees Fred Beaugard, Tucker Mucha and Mike Maduko took the biggest hit from graduation, while offensively the Broncos return receivers Joey Borsellino and Mark Gorogianis, tailback Dimitri Taylor, linemen David Sarkan and Tate Briggs (with several MAC offers) plus kicker Andrew Harte, “a real weapon.”

A quarterback battle ensues between juniors Jimmy Barron and Alex Willis, a transfer from WW South. Barron directed a 9-0 sophomore team in 2011.

“They’ve got strong enough arms to do what we need them to do,” Andriano said.

To reach a 20th straight playoff berth Montini must topple one or more of the Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division’s Big Four including St. Francis, Marmion and Marian Central.

The schedule also offers reigning 3A titlist Aurora Christian and SCC Gold teams Wheaton Academy, Immaculate Conception and Aurora Central, whose outcomes this year will count toward conference standings. But Andriano cites the opener at alma mater Palatine and Week 2 hosting Lincoln-Way East as pivotal.

“The first two games, right out of the box we’re playing very good 8A and very good 7A teams,” said Andriano. “We’ll find out our confidence level, if we’ve got the right guys in the right places. And staying healthy — I think if we stay healthy we should be right in the mix.”

All aboard

The 2012 season brings several new coaches to DuPage teams.

Ben Kleinhans (Metea Valley), Bill Ellinghaus (Neuqua Valley), Bill Bicker (West Chicago), T.J. Ragan (Wheaton Academy) and Billy Krefft (Immaculate Conception) all head varsity programs for the first time.

Veteran Steve Nye, 97-59 in 13 seasons at Brother Rice with 10 playoff appearances, takes the helm at York. Nye succeeds the worthy seven-year tenure of Bill Lech, who resigned after last season to spend more time with his family.

Ellinghaus had been with former Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells even before the south Naperville school began varsity play in 1998, and he was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator the past eight seasons. (Wells, former Neuqua dean of students fired from the football job on March 16, is the new principal at Aurora Christian, where he’s also an assistant on Don Beebe’s football staff.)

“It’s been the best summer for me,” Ellinghaus said. “It’s just fun taking over now and doing some of the things that I’ve wanted to do for awhile.”

He said the program has changed “dramatically” in the off-season, the biggest change being the implementation of a monitored, in-season weightlifting program.

“We had a great summer, we really had,” he said. “The kids, I think, have bought in to what we’re doing, working hard in the weight room and hard in the field.”

Neuqua supplied another new head coach in Kleinhans, with the Wildcats since 2003 and varsity quarterbacks coach the last three seasons. In his prep days at Waubonsie Valley (Class of 1999) the former quarterback helped R.J. Luke set state receiving records.

“There’s definitely an excitement in the program with the kids,” said Kleinhans, the second-youngest new head coach after 2003 Immaculate Conception grad Krefft.

“They think they have the ability to have a really good season,” Kleinhans said. “That’s always half the battle, that they think they can do things on Friday night in the game.”

Ted Monken’s successor said he had exactly one free day this summer, which he spent with his wife and two young sons. But he knew, gladly, what he was in for.

“I think just the daily preparation of not only running the football side of the operation on the field,” Kleinhans said, “but all that outside stuff that you deal with that isn’t on the football field. The administrative stuff that pops up on a daily basis. As an assistant coach you know that stuff goes on, but you don’t know how much of it goes on.”

Reserve your seat

Fans won’t be disappointed by these games. All are scheduled for Friday unless indicated.

Week 1, Aug. 24-25: Wheaton Warrenville South at Glenbard West (Saturday), Neuqua Valley at Naperville North, Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North at Bartlett, Glenbard East at Willowbrook.

Week 2, Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Maine South at WW South, Geneva at Wheaton North, Lincoln-Way East at Montini, Naperville Central at Neuqua Valley, Wheaton Academy at Immaculate Conception (Saturday).

Week 3, Sept. 7-8: Wheaton North at Naperville North, Metea Valley at Lake Park, Lyons Township at Glenbard West, Benet at St. Patrick (Saturday), Willowbrook at York.

Week 4, Sept. 14-15: Naperville North at WW South, Glenbard West at Hinsdale Central, Montini at St. Francis, Lake Park at Waubonsie Valley, Hinsdale South at Addison Trail.

Week 5, Sept. 21-22: WW South at Naperville Central, Marmion at Montini, Waubonsie Valley at Bartlett, St. Francis at Aurora Christian, Downers Grove South at Downers Grove North.

Week 6, Sept. 28-29: Naperville Central at Glenbard North, Riverside-Brookfield at Glenbard South, Neuqua Valley at Metea Valley, Marian Central at St. Francis, Hinsdale South at Hinsdale Central (Saturday).

Week 7, Oct. 5-6: Waubonsie Valley at Neuqua Valley, Glenbard North at WW South, Marmion at St. Francis, Glenbard South at Fenton, Lisle at Westmont.

Week 8, Oct. 12-13: Naperville North at Naperville Central, Wheaton North at Glenbard North, Glenbard West at York, Hinsdale Central at Downers Grove North, Neuqua Valley at Lake Park.

Week 9, Oct. 19-20: WW South at Wheaton North, Glenbard North at Naperville North, Addison Trail at Downers Grove South, Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley, York at Hinsdale Central.