Landi loving new job as Montini AD

Even while working in the corporate world, Bob Landi desired something else.

“I always had a dream to have the opportunity to work with kids, he said.

The 57-year-old Landi, who lives in Plainfield with his wife of 35 years, Katie, has realized that dream. He's getting acclimated to his first year as Broncos athletic director, having succeeded the venerable Don Riley, who retired in June after 13 years as athletic director.

“It's interesting, challenging, said Landi, who like Riley once worked at Johnson & Johnson, running manufacturing plants and facilities. Landi also worked at Merck/Medco Pharmaceuticals.

“We have 23 programs here and being new in this role this is the first time I've been in a role like this I have a great appreciation for what Don Riley did these last number of years here, said Landi, who talks weekly with Riley and feels “very blessed assistant Linda Green remained at her post.

Unbeknown to him, Landi forged a future Montini contact at an early age, playing with Broncos baseball coach Bill Leeberg on the same Lewis College baseball team. Landi played third base and catcher for Lewis' first national championship team in 1974 and later was named to the university's Athletic Hall of Fame. He's since become one of Leeberg's assistants.

When he turned 50, Katie Landi recalled that goal to work with kids they have three grown children themselves and Landi subsequently left the corporate life. He returned to Lewis University for a year, then part-time at the University of St. Francis, and joined Montini in 2008 as director of development.

He noted that Riley retired with Montini winning state titles in girls basketball, boys football, wrestling and poms, and said: “My feeling on winning is it's a lot more fun than losing.

Yet wins, losses and the like are relatively low on his list of priorities, following faith, family and academics.

“I look at the state championships and I think those things are wonderful. I'd like to have 23 state champions but not at a cost of those other three priorities, Landi said.

“I'd rather have kids growing in their faith than anything else right now,“ he said. “In our culture and our society, we need a little bit more faith right now.

Back with a vengeance

Benet Academy's boys basketball team is returning to the revered Proviso West Holiday Tournament, longtime tournament director Joe Spagnolo announced on Sept. 29.

The Redwings, who moved from the Plainfield North tourney, return Northwestern-bound point guard Dave Sobolewski and 6-foot-10 Wisconsin recruit Frank Kaminsky from last year's 26-4 squad. Benet lost in double-overtime to Class 4A state champion Simeon at the Hinsdale Central supersectional.

Now in its 50th year, the Proviso West Holiday Tournament welcomes the return of a Benet program that produced the fourth-best record of any team to have played there. Between 1978-86 the Redwings went 20-9 with four consolation titles and a fifth-place finish, in 1985.

Proffitt statements

“You never go out for a run and come back feeling worse than you were when you started, says Downers Grove North junior Allison Proffitt.

She admits she may have borrowed that quote, but it fits her and her twin brother, Kevin. He runs on the Trojans boys cross country team while Allison competes on the girls team.

There's an undeniable bond between twins. It can disrupt or be embraced. The Proffitts embrace it.

“We're best friends, Allison said.

“She really understands me, Kevin said. “We get in little fights, but we really know how to enjoy each other and get along and be there for each other. It's just everyday things. We just make each other happy.

The 16-year-olds started running in fifth grade. They've competed on their respective varsity cross country squads since their freshman years, and ran varsity track starting as sophomores.

In the 2009 3A state cross country finals Allison was the Trojans' fourth finisher from its eighth-place squad, which returns each of the girls who finished ahead of her Samantha Fry, Gabbie Hesslau and Gaby Effrein.

Kevin went downstate in 2008 with returnees Brian Llamas and Ben Silver.

Early Saturday morning both Proffitts will be running in the annual West Aurora Blackhawk Stampede at Waubonsee Community College.

Occasionally they'll yell at each other over computer time. Saturday it'll be in support.

“We're not, like, perfect, Allison said, “but we're really close.