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A change in Clarke's '36-year learning process'

Terry Clarke's mentors at York High School include legendary cross country coach Joe Newton and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductees Gary Grouwinkel and Terry Grider.

Those are some great mentors.

After 36 years as a Dukes wrestling coach, the last 26 as head coach, Clarke has certainly inspired young men as well. They can show their respect this week at Clarke's final Friday home dual meet, against Hinsdale Central, also York wrestling's alumni and senior night.

Clarke will step down after this season to be succeeded by Mike DiNovo, the former West Aurora coach in his second year as Clarke's varsity assistant. In 2015 Clarke retired from the health, physical education and driver's education department after 35 years.

"Whether it was 1980 or today, kids want to be pushed. They want to be successful, and a lot of times they can't push themselves, so we need to find which buttons to push," said Clarke, an Elmhurst College graduate who founded the Junior Dukes wrestling program his first year at York.

As Clarke has discovered while working alongside his mentors - he shared an office with Newton, too - and coaching football, baseball, track and badminton as well as wrestling, tailoring his approach to the individual works wonders.

"I'd say it's been a 36-year learning process," said the perpetually smiling redhead. "There's all different types of kids, with many different backgrounds and ability levels. Some kids you can give the Bobby Knight treatment. Other kids, they need to be patted on the back more and other kids, they need a hug. And it might be a verbal hug.

"It doesn't matter whether they're the best on your team or guys who are just learning, they need to be complimented. They need to know that you care for them and once they know you care for them and you're doing the absolute best for them, that's when they'll run through a wall for you."

Clarke's mat squads have won eight regional titles and three West Suburban Conference titles. He's produced nine all-state wrestlers and has coached 36 state qualifiers.

The pride of Taylorville, Illinois, he's a member of that high school's hall of fame and in 2010 was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame.

An offensive line specialist, Clarke plans to continue coaching York football and figures to remain with the wrestling program "in some aspect." He sound intrigued by the possibility that one day he and his wife, JoAnn, might head to southern California where his 26-year-old son, Anthony, recently got engaged.

A three-sport athlete at York, Anthony once cautiously asked his father's blessing to play basketball rather than wrestle. Terry of course encouraged Anthony to follow his heart.

While dealing with psyches during four decades as a coach, he's learned flexibility is crucial.

"Every kid's different, but the bottom line is it's an incredible journey that I would recommend for any young man or woman to get involved with," he said.

Winter ball

If a long and lively conversation with retired Oswego baseball coach Dave "Doc" Elko is indicative, the 55th Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Clinic will entertain as well as inform.

The clinic will be held Friday and Saturday at the Westin Hotel in Lombard.

Elko didn't have the particulars on clinicians handy - though he had plenty of tales to tell over the phone - but he did say the annual event will offer "a real good set of college coaches coming in."

As of last week he said 460 IHSBCA members had registered. Attendees will include board members Mike Stock of Naperville Central, Dan Schoessling of Wheaton North, Pete Kalal of York and retired Downers Grove South coach Phil Fox.

The two-day affair includes 2016 hall of fame inductions and many other awards including area coaches of the year, such as Glenbard North's Rich Smelko and St. Francis' Nick Hall. Players of the year, too. The IHSBCA's Class 2A player of the year is the late Charlie Donovan of Westmont, the Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area captain. Elko said Donovan's parents have indicated they'll accept the award on his behalf.

For information on costs at the door visit ihsbca.com. Then try to look up Doc Elko. He's wonderful.

Eagles get their man

It didn't take long for Benedictine University to fill the void following the December resignation of football coach Jon Cooper.

On Monday the Eagles announced Josiah Sears as the program's 28th head coach in school history. It will be his first head coaching experience. He inherits a squad that went 7-3.

A 2007 graduate of Indiana University who went from being a walk-on running back to a team captain who earned tryouts with the Bears and Buffalo Bills, Sears comes to Benedictine after serving as Wheaton College's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"He was here for us for three years and he did a nice job," said Wheaton College coach Mike Swider.

The last two seasons at Wheaton the Thunder went 11-1 and were ranked among the top 10 nationally. In 2015 Sears' offense averaged 38 points and 471 yards of offense.

Prior to Wheaton College, Sears held the same responsibilities five seasons at fellow Division III program Franklin College in Indiana. The Grizzlies ranked among national leaders in scoring offense, passing offense and total offense while going 44-11 during his tenure.

Swider liked the coach's X's and O's, but more than that also.

"He did a good job," Swider said, "but most importantly he embraced what Wheaton (College) stands for and what it means ... You want people who appreciate who you are and represent it well, and he did that."

Eshoo-in

Lewis University will present its All-Decades Women's Basketball Team for the 1980s at halftime of the Flyers' game against Bellarmine, 1 p.m. Saturday in Romeoville.

Among the 10-woman contingent is Krista Eshoo, a familiar name around Benet Academy. The former Redwing, a member of Lewis' Hall of Fame, played at Lewis from 1987-91 and still ranks second in scoring, third in steals and fourth in assists.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Follow Dave on Twitter @doberhelman1

Josiah Sears
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