Sebestyen named Prospect coach

Mike Sebestyen has been at Prospect from the beginning of its evolution from a football doormat to a state power.

Now Sebestyen gets his chance to continue the Knights' tradition of success. He was chosen as their new head coach Friday to replace Brent Pearlman, who stepped down after the season.

Sebestyen came to Prospect as an assistant coach when Pearlman took over in 1999 and started a 12-year tenure where he went 104-34 with three Class 7A state titles.

"I've had such an unbelievable opportunity to work at this high school and follow someone I greatly appreciate and respect in Brent," Sebestyen said. "I'm very excited about the opportunity.

"I'm ready to hit the ground running and continue what this program has always done and the ideals of what we've always believed. I want to continue to build this program and add another chapter."

Sebestyen spent his first two years at Prospect as a freshman coach and joined the varsity as an assistant when it won its first 7A title in 2001.

"Mike has shown over time he's committed to Prospect and he's a very ethical and moral person who we really entrust with running our program and working with kids and coaches," said Prospect assistant principal for student activities Greg Minter. "He'll be the first to tell you he's not starting over and turning everything upside down, but he'll also put his own mark on the program with some new energy and new ideas."

Sebestyen's dad Don was a head coach for five years at Fenwick and an assistant at Mt. Carmel. Sebestyen was also a student manager at Illinois under Lou Tepper and Ron Turner and spent a year there working with current New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.

"This is something I knew I wanted to do since I was 9 years old," Sebestyen said. "The impact my father had on young men as a football coach and teacher really made an impression on me."