Sidelines: Retired Montini coach Andriano to receive ‘the greatest honor of my football life’

Before Montini Catholic opens its 2026 football season against Hoopeston on Friday in Lombard, retired Broncos football coach Chris Andriano will be saluted with what he called “the greatest honor, really, of my football life, my whole career.”

That says a lot.

Andriano, 74, of Aurora, is in the halls of fame of Montini and his alma mater, Palatine High School, of Millikin University where he was a receiver, and of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

Retiring in 2016 after 38 years as Montini’s head coach and 43 years at the school, his 300 wins (against 128 losses) are tied for eighth all-time among Illinois prep coaches.

Andriano won 12 conference titles and six state championships. His seven straight title game appearances from 2009-15 are Illinois’ standard.

On Friday his stature increases when after a reception and short program in the school, at 7:15 p.m. Montini will dedicate Chris Andriano Field at John Duffy Memorial Stadium.

John Duffy was Montini’s first athletic manager, a member of Montini’s inaugural Class of 1970 who died of leukemia as a sophomore in 1968.

The lettering, “Chris Andriano Field,” will be on the northeast and southeast corners of the home and visitors sidelines on the newly refurbished field.

“The letters are gold and the sideline is maroon. Perfect,” Andriano said.

As well, Montini will present a plaque to the family of William and Barbara Dixon, dedicating the track encircling the field in their late parents’ name.

Both benefactors to the school — and to St. Francis High School in Wheaton — Bill Dixon coached shot put and discus at Montini for about 20 years.

“Montini Catholic High School has always occupied a special place in our parents’ heart,” said a statement by Bill and Barb Dixon’s children: Sarah, Ann, Matt, Pete and Sheila.

“They supported the school in many different ways. They believed Montini adhered to the Catholic Church’s moral and philosophical ideals so that students became young adults with clear and right convictions,” their statement said.

“We are very grateful with the kind way Montini wanted them remembered, and how they valued our parents’ support.”

Bill Dixon was on Andriano’s boys track staff in 2005 when the Broncos were about 120 meters from a Class A title before an opponent’s fall in the closing 1,600 relay allowed Eureka to score the points necessary to top Montini 49-48.

“Bill never wanted any credit or any kind of recognition for anything that he did. That’s just the guy that he was,” Andriano said.

Andriano, who called the 2009 Class 5A football championship “the game of the century for us” — scoring a touchdown with 32 seconds left, his gutsy, successful call to go for a 2-point conversion beat Joliet Catholic 29-28 — remains in football at the youth level.

He’s assisting with the Lombard Falcons, where his youngest grandson plays on the team led by one of Andriano’s former all-state players, Joey Borsellino.

“He recruited me,” said Andriano, who also coached five granddaughters in flag football.

He counts himself fortunate Montini likewise gave him a job in 1974 right out of Millikin as a physical education and health teacher, and assistant coach.

“It was a labor of love for me every day, pretty much,” Andriano said.

“There’s not too many times you get to live your dream. I got to do that.”

Administrators

Steve Gertz, who retired in July as athletic director at Dundee-Crown, has allowed no moss to grow under him.

He recently joined St. Edward as dean and assistant athletic director in first-year athletic director Pete Archibald’s new staff in Elgin.

Gertz brings vast experience at Grayslake Central, Burlington Central and at Streamwood.

Hinsdale Central ‘s athletic department, under the leadership of athletic director Mike Jezioro, has earned “exemplary” status by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association in Indianapolis.

Only three Illinois high schools have attained this level on the NIAAA’s Quality Program Assessment since the program began in 2012. Jezioro had to complete a leadership training course and document how the school successfully met 10 quality assessment categories.

NIAAA associate director Rich Barton called the designation “a big deal,” and said the Hinsdale Central athletic community should be thankful for Jezioro’s work on this.

“They’re all very blessed to have someone like Michael undertake something so significant,” Barton said.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com