Cerasani honored to join mentors in Hall of Fame

Tom Cerasani had the good fortune of playing football for coaches such as Jack Leese, Bill Ohlson and Len Janik at East Leyden High School.

Now Cerasani will be joining them in the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Cerasani, who was a head coach for 23 years at Schaumburg and Palatine, received word of the honor just before Christmas. His induction will take place April 5 in Champaign at the annual IHSFCA clinic.

"It's a great honor to get in that group," Cerasani said. "There are some great coaches in there. (Leese and Ohlson) said, 'Well, coach, someday you'll be in here with us.' "

Cerasani was 112-109 during his head coaching career. After two years at Palatine, he took over at Schaumburg and from 1984-2004 won five MSL division titles and took the 1999 team to second in the state in Class 6A.

He finished a coaching career of more than 30 years this fall by spending the last three seasons helping his son Tom Jr. at Leyden.

"It's a nice way to go out," said Cerasani, who helped Leyden make its first playoff appearance in nine years.

Cerasani also views his Hall of Fame induction as a reward for those who have worked alongside him such as Greg Sloan, Bill Murmann, Mark Steger, Joe Rupslauk and many others.

"It's good for the Schaumburg football program and all the guys who have been with me," Cerasani said. "It wasn't just me doing it. The guys are all excited about it."