Hetlett, DiMatteo worthy of honors
Last week we took a look at some very worthy candidates for Offensive Player of the Year. Today, let's feature some of the coaches from Class 8A and Class 7A who are deserving of being named as the 2008 Rivals.com Illinois Coach of the Year honors.
While every coach who is still left with a team in the state playoff field is more than deserving of this honor, here's some names for all of you to consider from the Class 8A and 7A ranks.
Tom Meaney, Bartlett: The Hawks have soared to new heights this fall, and the man behind this team has quite a lot to do with the success from the undefeated 12-0 Hawks. Meaney has Bartlett making school history this season, including making the school's first semifinal appearance on Saturday night, hosting Maine South in the Class 8A semifinal. The Hawks are a hard-nosed, no-nonsense, blue-collar type of team this season, just like their coach.
Dave Inserra, Maine South: Seldom will you ever see any public high school program that has been as consistent as the Hawks have been under coach Dave Inserra. Year in and year out, the Hawks remain one of the most dangerous offenses in the state, and the 2008 team has simply lived up to all of the preseason expectation and hype so far, never an easy task for any program. The Hawks will travel to Bartlett on Saturday in the Class 8A semifinal.
Mike DiMatteo, Hinsdale Central: It's taken a few seasons, but the former Lake Zurich coach has been able to get this program back to the top tier of the Class 8A field. The Red Devils will take on Mt. Carmel in a Class 8A semifinal Saturday. DiMatteo has been able to readjust his offense from the old-school option to the new-school shotgun spread while still keeping the option as a big part of the spread attack.
Frank Lenti, Mt. Carmel: Some will argue that naming Lenti as a Coach of the Year is questionable at best, taking into account the Caravan's resources along with its year in and year out success. Yet this was a team that had dropped two straight regular-season games in the CCL Blue. The Caravan, which was ranked as everyone's preseason No. 1 team, has rebounded nicely from that 2-2 start and will travel to Hinsdale Central for a Class 8A semifinal on Saturday. Lenti's steady hand and no-nonsense style has been a guiding force for this Caravan team this fall.
Jim Stuglis, Crystal Lake South: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Gators, according to those in the know around the Fox Valley. So much for rebuilding. The Gators defeated conference rival Cary-Grove in overtime to advance to this weekend's Class 7A semifinals against Geneva.
Rob Wicinski, Geneva: Wicinski has put together one great season this fall, and the Vikings are quickly becoming a yearly traditional power program in Class 7A. The offense features a standout in senior running back Michael Ratay along with a very solid defense, and the numbers have never been biger or better for the program on all levels.
Chad Hetlett, Glenbard West: It's been just two short seasons ago, but when Chad Hetlett took over the Hilltoppers program he was facing a serious uphill battle after the team posted a last-place finish and 1-8 overall record in 2006. Hetlett got his kids to believe his philosophy, and the Hilltoppers haven't looked back since. Glenbard West will host East St. Louis on Saturday in Class 7A semifinal action.
Darren Sunkett, East St. Louis: It's one thing to be blessed with some talented Division I-level kids, yet it's a whole other deal trying to keep all of those same kids on the same page week in and week out and to get them to win games and to play as a team. The 2008 Flyers feature at least count eight Division I prospects this season, yet Sunkett has made these talented kids check the egos at the door in putting up an impressive 11-1 record. The Flyers will trvel to Glen Ellyn on Saturday to face Glenbard West in a Class 7A semifinal showdown.