A championship connection resurfaces in a different field

As it headed into the football playoffs 33 years ago for the first time as Wheaton Warrenville South, Tigers defensive coordinator Ron Muhitch could be found barking orders to his unit, which included senior Michael LaFido at strong safety.

LaFido, in fact, intercepted a pass in the Tigers’ 17-14 first-round win over York and led his team in tackles in the 40-34 double-overtime championship game victory over Joliet Catholic.

That capped a perfect 14-0 record and earned the 1992 Class 5A title, the Tigers’ first under the star duo of head coach John Thorne and Muhitch.

Today, Muhitch still tells LaFido what’s up — but now it’s in the form of referrals to LaFido, founder and CEO of the Luxe Group, a high-end real estate brokerage firm in Wheaton.

“We act as a team,” said LaFido, 51, in the first graduating class at Wheaton Warrenville South after its move from Wheaton Central, where a Mariano’s grocery store now stands.

“He’s more the relationship, so if he has an opportunity, my role is running the back office, the marketing. If it’s a listing, the strategy; if it’s a buyer, then help coordinating, sending them properties,” LaFido said.

“Just like coaching on a football team, everybody’s got their roles and responsibilities.”

Muhitch has actually been in real estate investment and sales for decades, maintaining a license since 1984.

Recruited out of western Pennsylvania by Wheaton College to play football, after his student teaching he was hired by Wheaton Central to teach. He added assistant coaching responsibilities and eventually became a Realtor part-time.

“It’s funny, when you’re helping kids and families, one of their primary needs for resources is someone they can trust for real estate needs, too,” said Muhitch, 70.

LaFido helped install insulation in one of Muhitch’s first homes, and in that 1992 season, LaFido noticed real estate signs in the back of Muhitch’s car.

“People that know him, like him and trust him,” LaFido said.

The younger man initially followed a similar path as his former coach — Glenbard South physical education teacher, assistant football coach at Wheaton Warrenville South. LaFido added real estate part time.

After more than a decade as a coach — including coaching defensive backs on the 2009 and 2010 Class 7A champions under Muhitch as head coach — he left teaching to focus full time on his successful real estate practice.

As he’s progressed with the Luxe Group, LaFido has written books on real estate marketing, and he travels worldwide teaching other Realtors his secrets under his own consulting company, Marketing Luxury Group.

“I think he still uses some of Coach Muhitch’s one-liners in his presentations with real estate agents,” said Muhitch, who joined the Luxe Group this spring.

“It’s been nice to be able to cross paths with him and now to be able to be on his team,” Muhitch said.

“That full circle of relationships, they bring back good memories but also they continue to provide opportunities for great, successful relationships,” Muhitch said.

Muhitch and his wife, Sheri, do their share of traveling, too. If Muhitch is out of town when a realty challenge emerges, as he did back in 1992, LaFido provides safety.

“We’ve got his back and we can help him cover that,” LaFido said.

“I would cover it more of a zone rather than a cover zero, which means he has no help. That’s a good play. You don’t want to be in no-man’s land, cover zero. He’s got help over the top.”

Productive season

Readers may recall that before the football season began we reported on Lisle High School shifting to a junior varsity schedule due to low numbers and little experience.

Lions coach Cory Dillard was pleased to report Tuesday that his team finished 7-2 on that JV schedule.

Going almost exclusively to a ground game, Sebastian Osslund, J.T. Tumbarelli and quarterback Nathaniel Garcia led Lisle in rushing.

They were among Lisle’s top defensive players as well. The Lions also got consistent defensive efforts by Collins Miles, Jack Paige, Da’Marion Battle, Elanas Grigonas and Ephrem Winterburn.

Battle and Paige are freshmen, the rest are sophomores.

“The kids had a great experience,” Dillard said. “We hope to use this as a springboard.”

doberhelman@dailyherald.com