Huntley introduces Hart as new football coach
New Huntley High School football coach John Hart wasted no time detailing his expectations for the future of the program once his hiring was made official by the District 158 Board of Education at its monthly meeting in Algonquin Thursday evening.
“I came here because everyone involved has shown a commitment to win, a commitment to a vision, a commitment to facilities and a commitment to every aspect of having a championship football team,” Hart said. “And I promise you it's going to happen. I don't know how quickly — that will be based on our players — but it will happen.”
Hart has a long track record of success to back up such a promise. The 1980 graduate of Newton (Ill.) High School, who holds bachelor's and Master's degrees in physical education from Eastern Illinois, owns a career record of 238-70 in 27 seasons as head coach at Albion Edwards County, Ill., (24-22), Mount Carmel, Ill. (101-21), Evansville Reitz (73-17) and Indianapolis Warren Central (41-9).
Hart coached two Indiana high schools to state titles. He led Reitz to the Class 4A title in 2007, and he guided state power Warren Central to the Class 5A title in 2009.
Overall, Hart has enjoyed 24 winning seasons, his teams have made 12 consecutive playoff appearances and completed seven undefeated regular seasons. He was named coach of the year 11 times.
“One thing that we were looking for was somebody with experience, someone with somewhat of a pedigree,” Huntley athletic director Bruce Blumer said. “Obviously, we found somebody with a great pedigree and a great track record. We'd like to get some consistency back in the program and build it up. We're thinking if anybody can get this done, he can do it.”
“We feel very lucky to get him, and we feel philosophically he fits in very well in this district,” District 158 superintendent Dr. John Burkey said.
Statistically, Hart's teams have finished No. 1 in total offense in the state of Indiana four of the last five years.
“By being a multi-formational team we mold our philosophy to our teams,” Hart said. “It's somewhat universal. If you use a zone concept, you can do a lot of things with it. If you've got a very athletic quarterback — like what we had in 2007 when we won the state championship at Reitz — we molded our offense around a quarterback who was the only kid who ever won Mr. Football in Indiana south of Bloomington.
“When we won it in 2009, we had a great throwing quarterback and a great running back. So we again changed our offense based on a guy that wasn't going to run the football. I think it starts with the quarterback, and then you figure out from that point what your strengths are.”
Hart was accompanied at the meeting by his wife of nearly 28 years, Janet, also a teacher. The couple has four children, the oldest of whom, Kyle, 26, recently accepted his first football head coaching position at Gibson Southern (Ind.). High School. All four Hart children are either teachers or completing their education to become teachers.
Hart will complete the school year as a physical education teacher at Warren Central, the same role he will take on at Huntley. He said he intends to travel to Huntley on weekends in the interim.
Meanwhile, the new coach will be introduced to the Huntley football players this morning.
“I'm going to ask them what their goals are,” Hart said. “If their goal is to win the conference, then that's what they'll get. If their goals are unlimited, then we'll see how far we can get.”