Montini coach Andriano picks up Bears honor
Chicago Bears season tickets have been in the family of Montini coach Chris Andriano since his late father, Joseph, first got them in the 1950s.
The Montini coach won't need a ticket to watch the Bears host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 7. He'll be invited to the game and recognized on the field, part of being named Thursday as the Chicago Bears High School "Coach of the Week" for Week 1.
"I wish (Joseph Andriano) was still around to have fun with this," Andriano said of the honor, which includes a framed certificate, the opportunity to attend a Bears practice and "chalk-talk" with coach Lovie Smith and fellow Coach of the Week honorees, as well as $1,500 donated to Montini's football program in Andriano's honor.
"Whatever accolades 'Coach A' gets are deserved because of the way he handles himself," said Montini athletic director Don Riley.
"I don't think you'd find another guy who has cared for kids the way he has and has the passion to teach them, even after they've graduated. He's tireless in that effort. I think Coach A personifies the title of coach-teacher."
Other recent Bears Coach of the Week honorees have included former Driscoll coaches Tim Racki and Mike Burzawa.
A big qualification for the Bears award, now in its 13th year, is an ability to develop character, leadership skills and teamwork in players, and contributing to players' success on and off the field.
Success on the football field obviously counts as well. In Montini's 34-31 victory Aug. 29 at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, the Broncos' rally from a 28-7 halftime deficit to score the winning touchdown with no time remaining on the clock, Andriano earned his 200th win in a 30-year career.
"It's a great honor," said Andriano, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member whose Broncos won the 2004 Class 4A title.
"It's obviously because of the success of our team, so that makes me feel even better. Coaches, players, a lot of work goes into it. When you do something special like we were able to do last Saturday, it's a reflection, really, on everybody."