Mundelein AD Wilhelm nets Division 2 honor

Mundelein High School athletic director Perry Wilhelm has been named the Division 2 athletic director of the year. Division 2 includes 118 high schools from Lake, McHenry, Kane, Boone and northern Cook counties.

Wilhelm is a graduate of Mundelein High School and has spent his career at Mundelein except for a two-year stint as athletic director at Grant High School in Fox Lake. At MHS, he has worked as a teacher, dean of students and is now in his eighth year as athletic director. All four of his children are MHS graduates and are all teachers and coaches.

“This is a great honor since it acknowledges Perry’s dedication to MHS students on and off the playing field,” said Mundelein principal Anthony Kroll. “Perry has not only fostered a strong athletic program for the high school, but also a tradition of student leadership.”

Wilhelm’s resume includes active participation and leadership roles in the Illinois Athletic Directors Association, including the advisory committee for gymnastics and for athletes with disabilities; service as secretary and president of the North Suburban Conference; host for Thanksgiving boys/girls basketball tournaments, Christmas girls basketball tournaments and boys gymnastics invites; hosting numerous North Suburban Conference championships; hosting many IHSA contests, including boys and girls golf regionals, boys basketball regionals and girls basketball regionals/sectionals, water polo sectionals, baseball and softball regionals/sectionals, boys and girls gymnastics regionals, boys and girls soccer regionals/sectionals and boys/girls volleyball regionals.

At Mundelein High School, Wilhelm created the Student Athlete Leadership Training program, added a digital wall of fame recognizing students athletes, and he was instrumental in the planning and completion of the new athletic field, track and swimming pool.

“I’m honored by this selection because it comes from my peers,” Wilhelm said. “Being an athletic director is rewarding because it provides opportunities to watch and influence the development and achievements of so many young athletes. I credit all the other athletic directors.

“We bring out the best in each other.”