Gilberts youth football coach charged with forgery, theft

The founder and former head coach of the GPH Grizzlies youth football program in Gilberts is accused of taking money from the organization.

Michael S. Curran, 50, of the 900 block of Tipperary Street, was arrested in mid-May and charged with felony forgery and felony theft, Kane County court records show.

Curran is accused of delivering a false invoice of $3,050 to the treasurer of the Gilberts Youth Football and Cheer Inc. on March 4, 2014, and obtaining control of more than $2,250 from Brian Kovanda, board president for the football program, also in March 2014, court records show. The program conducts business under the name GPH Grizzlies.

Curran directed all questions to his lawyer, Timothy Mahoney, of West Dundee. Mahoney did not return a call for comment.

The board of the nonprofit football program discovered last year that Curran turned in fake invoices for the printing of fundraising “value cards,” which are sold to the public for $10, Kovanda said. The cards yield discounts at various local establishments.

Curran billed the organization $3 per card instead of 75 cents, the actual cost of printing, keeping the $2.25 difference per card, Kovanda said.

Curran founded the program in 2008 and was a board member until August, when he resigned, Kovanda said.

He stayed on as head coach of the Grizzlies until the end of the season in October, and then the board voted not to allow him back, Kovanda said. The Grizzlies now have a new head coach.

“Our board believes he resigned because of the fact that we kept asking him to produce invoices for our records so we could close our books and make the numbers match,” Kovanda said. “He never did or could provide that for us. I think his thoughts were to resign and trying to get away from us.”

The board turned its evidence to Gilberts police in late October or November, Kovanda said. Gilberts Police Chief Lou Rossi did not return a request for comment. Kane County prosecutors said they don't comment on pending or potential litigation.

Curran posted 10 percent of the $25,000 bail on May 20 and is free while the charges are pending. He is next due in court June 5. The charges carry a top prison term of five years if convicted, with probation also an option.

• Daily Herald staff writer Harry Hitzeman contributed to this story.