Wheaton North names Wardynski
After a widespread search for a new football coach, Wheaton North found the answer in its own backyard.
Falcons athletic director Matt Fisher confirmed Monday that Wheaton Warrenville South defensive coordinator Joe Wardynski has been hired as the program's varsity football coach.
Wardynski, 35, comes to Wheaton North after a nine-year stint at WW South. Coaching on all levels, he spent the last four years as defensive coordinator to head coach Ron Muhitch as the Tigers won three straight DuPage Valley Conference titles and the 2006 Class 8A state championship.
"I felt Wheaton North was a good opportunity," Wardynski said. "It's a chance to stay in the DVC. I think it could be a pretty easy transition."
Wardynski inherits the program from 10-year coach Matt Foster, who resigned in November after a 5-5 season and Wheaton North's first playoff berth since 2003. The Falcons have 15 starters returning led by junior running back Mike Trumpy, who has scholarship offers from Northwestern and Stanford, and sophomore quarterback Taylor Graham.
Fisher said about 20 candidates applied for the position before the school narrowed the list to nine. After breaking it down to a final three, Wardynski earned the job. A former social studies teacher and current dean at WW South, he'll continue to be a dean at Wheaton North.
"He impressed us with his organizational skills, his people skills and his knowledge of football," Fisher said. "We're very pleased."
Wardynski, who has three children with wife Jennifer, grew up in Woodridge and was a 1990 graduate of Benet. He played linebacker and fullback at Southern Illinois before earning a master's degree at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and returning to Illinois.
While accepting the Wheaton North job fulfills a dream for Wardynski, it comes with a bit of sadness.
"The hardest part is going to be saying goodbye to Wheaton South -- I have a lot of friends there," said Wardynski, who met with Wheaton North's players and coaches on Monday.
"But at the same time, it was neat to stand up in front of a group of 200 kids who are hungry and ready to go. Obviously Wheaton North's had a ton of success. That's what we're hoping to build on."