Pistorio leaving South Elgin for Niles North

South Elgin football coach Pat Pistorio was named the new Niles North coach at the Niles Township High School District 219 board meeting Tuesday night.

Pistorio, 37, succeeded Dale Schabert as the second football coach in South Elgin history when he was hired in July of 2013. He led the Storm for five seasons to a 29-19 record and two playoff appearances, and 33 of his players went on to play college football.

He reunites with Niles North principal Jim Edwards, who was South Elgin's principal when Pistorio was hired. He will join Niles North's Physical Wellness Department. Pistorio split time at South Elgin teaching Social Studies and Physical Education.

"Between being able to be part of the Physical Wellness Department full time and what the district had to offer, it was something we had to do as a family," Pistorio said.

Pistorio replaces Mike Garoppolo, who resigned in March after two seasons to relocate near his brother, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Niles North finished 2-7 last season, 0-5 in the Central Suburban League South Division. The Vikings went 1-8 in 2016, but they are three seasons removed from a Class 7A quarterfinal appearance.

"I'm looking forward to being competitive and eventually getting back to where they were a few years ago when they made a run to the quarterfinals," Pistorio said. "I just want to tap into that energy."

Pistorio's 2015-16 team went 9-2, setting a South Elgin record for single-season victories, and became only the second squad in the program's 12 seasons to win a playoff game.

South Elgin finished 8-2 last fall, the second-best win total in program history. The Storm won the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division for the second time in three years, outscoring their opponents by a 34-15 average.

A new coach will lead South Elgin next season in a revamped Upstate Eight Conference that includes 10 schools, no divisions.

South Elgin athletic director Jason Ward said he and the returning assistant coaches will lead the football program until a new head coach is named. The job was posted within the district Tuesday night. Ward said interviews will begin next week. Meanwhile, he thanked a man he called "a good friend" for his leadership for the last five seasons. "(Pat) has done a tremendous job with this program and has set a high bar for the next candidate that will take over," Ward said. "I could go on for hours and tell all the great things Pat has done for our athletes and this program. He's always had their best interest at heart. He's helped so many student athletes go on and play at the next level, which has motivated a lot of our current student athletes to continue to work hard during the season and off-season. He's going to be dearly missed."

Prior to his arrival at South Elgin, Pistorio was the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Slaughter Indoor Football League team from 2007-2013. He was the offensive coordinator at Harper College in 2010 and worked with Lake Forest College for three seasons beginning in 2007.

Pistorio is a 1998 Larkin High School graduate. He graduated from Southern Illinois in 2002.