Fremd honors legendary coaches

William Fremd High School in Palatine honored retired coaches Joe Samojedny and Lauren Dennhardt by inducting them into the school's Wall of Fame at a recent home basketball game.

Samojedny taught physical education and psychology and coached multiple sports from 1969 until his retirement in 2017. Dennhardt, the school's librarian from 1984 until her retirement in 2017, coached the Group Interpretation Performance team.

Both coaches said they were humbled by the recognition.

"I was shocked to hear about this," Dennhardt said. "I am honored."

"To have kids care about what I did and how I treated them is worth so much more," Samojedny said.

With a combined 82 years in the school, both coaches credit Fremd's atmosphere with their continued service.

"I thought the contribution I had to the community and the high school was more important than going to other schools," Samojedny said. "It was like working with my family."

"I was really happy to come to work every day. We had great faculty, staff and administrators, on top of the best students in the world," Dennhardt added. "I always thought I would retire when that was no longer the case, but that never happened. I had the best job."

The evening's recognitions saw alumni returning to offer their congratulations to their former coaches.

"I played for Coach Samo for four years back in the '90s, and he was just such an inspirational person," said alum Kevin Brucker. "This is well deserved."