Straight talk from the newest Bear's prep coach
Dan LeFevour was a Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area quarterback as a senior at Benet Academy in 2004. A dual threat, he ran for 634 yards, threw for 931 and accounted for 20 touchdowns. He was the East Suburban Catholic Conference's co-offensive MVP with another quarterback, Nazareth's Peter Zavagnin.
We asked Gary Goforth, LeFevour's football coach at Benet, if he had any idea how much LeFevour's stock would rise, to the point where he's a Chicago Bears draft pick.
"I don't know if you can ever predict if an individual will ever evolve into an NFL Draft pick," Goforth began in an e-mail response.
"On the other hand his work ethic, his body frame, his physical abilities and the way he studies the game are all factors that played into him becoming a draft pick. The way his abilities developed over the past five years got him to where he is today.
"During his high school years there was always the talent and ability, the focus on what he had to do to get to the next level, let alone succeed, and his leadership ability that stood out and set him apart from other quarterbacks.
"I always thought he would be a very good quarterback at the college level, but I don't think anyone could have dreamed he would have had such a distinguished career at Central Michigan University, let alone be a draft pick. However, watching him many times on TV, it was fairly obvious that he would get an opportunity to play at the professional level.
"There is no doubt that Dan is up to the challenge."
Paying respectsServices for the late educator and Naperville Central pitching coach Phil Lawler - who passed away April 23 at age 60 after a long battle against cancer - are as follows: Visitation from 3-8 p.m. (Rosary at 7 p.m.), Thursday, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 2220 Lisson Road, Naperville.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Seton. Interment will follow at Naperville Cemetery.Memorial contributions can be made to Naperville Central Booster Club for baseball.Happier Redhawks newsRedhawks third baseman Nick Linne was named the William Scherer Outstanding Athlete, as well as outstanding male senior athlete, at Naperville Central's Senior Athletic Banquet on Sunday.Linne, a Northwestern baseball recruit, will graduate with eight varsity letters - three apiece in baseball and basketball and two for football.Claire Fleming was named Naperville Central's outstanding female senior athlete. She's a two-time all-state water polo player (with a chance at a three-peat when that's announced in May) with four letters in that sport plus three in girls basketball.Can't do without those boosters ... Also honored at the banquet were Paul and Heidi Tanzillo, who got the Bud and Barb Perry Award as boosters of the year.Triple threatDiane Waters is a Neuqua Valley graduate spinning several plates.A prep soccer standout, in 2009 Waters aided the Aurora University women's soccer team, which reached the NCAA Division III national tournament after winning the Northern Athletics Conference regular-season and tournament titles.A senior in college, she's a psychology major.And she's a model. In fan voting Waters was chosen one of 16 finalists vying for the title of WLUP radio's 2010 "Rock Girl," which includes a $75,000 contract. The Sweet Sixteen will present their credentials in the final selection held at 8:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.) Saturday at the Fuel Room inside Austin's Saloon in Libertyville.Guest judges include Motley Crue's Vince Neil, so mace accordingly.Welcome to the clubAlmost invariably coaches who reach milestones say the same thing, because they're humble."It means I've been around awhile," Addison Trail boys volleyball coach Tom Hubner said of winning his 300th match, against Wheaton Academy on April 24. Hubner, in his 10th season with the Blazers after three at his alma mater, Wheaton North, had a career record of 301-117 entering Tuesday's action. After the knee-jerk self-deprecation about age or longevity, these high achieving coaches - only nine, including Wheaton Warrenville South's Bill Schreier and York's Patty Iverson, comprise the IHSA's list of boys volleyball 300-match winners - reach a deeper truth."I just think it's a great testament to a lot of good, hardworking players that I've coached. And I've had great assistants throughout the entire process," said St. Francis' Mike Lynch, who joined the 300 club April 17 at Streamwood. The 50-year-old said his record stood at 307-86 entering Thursday's contest at Illiana Christian.At a school that features 1,000-win girls volleyball coach Peg Kopec, the Spartans' 12-year coach shoots down any suggestion of rivalry."If anything, I think they help each other," said Lynch, who initially struggled to convince the school administration to start another spring sport at the midsized private school in Wheaton. He got it rolling in 1999 with two levels."They were concerned if we'd have the numbers," said Lynch, a St. Francis alum who started his coaching career as one of Kopec's assistants. He's got big numbers now.As does Hubner, who echoes Lynch: "It means a lot, because it was a lot of hard work that the kids have put in."A lifelong Wheaton resident out of North's Class of '87, Hubner deals with a different demographic at Addison Trail. As well as getting players from only one middle school, in a highly specialized sport he said he's had "maybe 25" club players.Hubner said three on this year's team tried out for a club, made the cut, then saw what it would cost and backed away. That gives him zero club players on this year's varsity roster."We've just had to do it differently," said Hubner, who received a signed ball from his team after win No. 300. "We've had to coach them up starting as freshmen."His approach, like that of Lynch, has netted a milestone."It takes some time to get there," Hubner said. "You play 36 times a year. You either have to be successful or be around for awhile. One or the other."