Glenbard East picks Walters
With the hiring of John Walters, Glenbard East turned to a DuPage Valley Conference veteran to lead its football program.
Walters, the Rams’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons, was announced Monday as Glenbard East’s new head football coach. He’ll replace Dennis Lueck, who in November stepped down after 20 years at the helm.
“Being a head football coach is just something I really want to do,” Walters said. “As the defensive coordinator when Dennis stepped down, I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Walters established himself in the DVC as West Chicago’s defensive coordinator for 11 years. He was also the Wildcats’ head football coach in 2007 before becoming the defensive back coach and head baseball coach at York.
Two years ago he returned to the DVC when he was hired as Glenbard East’s defensive coordinator and baseball coach.
“I’ve had a chance to coach against these guys for a number of years,” Walters said. “I think I’ll have an advantage over someone who might be coming in with no experience.”
Walters inherits a Rams football team that went 3-6 in the fall and has six of its nine returning starters on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams also return sophomore quarterback Joe Kotch, who saw significant playing time at the end of last season.
“I think we have a great opportunity next year,” Walters said. “We’ve got a lot of guys coming back and some great players coming up from our sophomore team. We’re real excited.”
Naperville Central announces new baseball coach:
Mike Stock always felt pride as a former Naperville Central baseball player.
Being named the Redhawks’ next baseball coach only deepens that pride.
“It’s just a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “Ever since I came here I was thrilled to be back at Naperville Central and back in the baseball program.”
Stock, a coach in the baseball program since 1995, was tabbed Monday as the man to replace longtime head coach Bill Seiple when he retires at the end of this spring after one more season.
A 1990 graduate of Naperville Central, Stock spent two years as a freshman coach, eight years at the sophomore level and the last three seasons as a Redhawks’ varsity assistant.
Naperville Central won the 2010 Class 4A state championship, its second title under Seiple. Stock recognizes the responsibility of maintaining the Redhawks’ winning legacy.
“The last three years especially have been an incredible experience for me as a coach,” Stock said. “I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity at a better place.”