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Tom Mietus appointed as Glenbrook South's new athletic director

Over his 40 years, Tom Mietus has absorbed the lessons of numerous mentors.

He's also formulated his own philosophies and practices regarding leadership in an athletic environment.

Glenbrook High Schools District 225 has rewarded Mietus' desire to seek knowledge and apply it. On Monday, the district released Mietus' appointment as Glenbrook South's new athletic director, effective July 1.

"I'm excited. This is something I've wanted to do since I set foot in Glenbrook South," said Mietus, an assistant athletic director for the Titans since 2016.

"I've always wanted to be an athletic director. That's the main reason I really got into education. I love coaching, but more than that I really love to teach coaches how to coach better. My big things are leadership and curriculum. I want to teach others to be great leaders, and there's no better way to have a multiplying affect than by teaching coaches," he said.

Mietus will succeed Andy Turner, the former Maine South athletic director who arrived at Glenbrook South on an interim basis after the Sept. 21 resignation of Steve Rockrohr. Turner will continue in the position through June.

"We're going to squeeze everything we can get out of him," said Mietus, who also credited athletic department colleagues Courtney Middleton and Julie Klasen for prevailing during "this whole COVID era."

Mietus, with Glenbrook South 15 years as a physical education teacher and both an assistant and head coach, didn't need to look far for role models.

His grandfather, Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Fran Willett, was one of nine honorees at the dedication of Notre Dame College Prep's "Legends Field" in September 2015. Mietus' first job after earning his bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science at Carthage College was at Notre Dame.

His father, also Tom, was head wrestling and golf coach at Addison Trail. Mietus' father-in-law, former Stevenson wrestling coach Lino Martinez, is a member of both the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and the Lake County High School Sports halls of fame.

Mietus himself - he's Thomas Collins, his father Thomas Joseph - graduated from Maine West in 1999 as a four-year, three-sport athlete and team captain, subsequently inducted into its athletic hall.

He learned from those men, from his supportive mother, Kathy, and from people like former Glenbrook South football coach Mike Noll, that leadership and coaching goes beyond X's and O's.

"Developing those relationships with kids is what makes a great coach. It's that simple," said Mietus, who with his wife, Jennifer, has two daughters, Allie, 11, and Madison, 13.

"Tactical and technical stuff is great, but building relationships is key, and that's what's great about my dad, my grandpa and my father-in-law, is they were great in building relationships."

Gaining certifications in school counseling and educational leadership, as well as in physical education, Mietus' credentials impressed the district in multiple ways.

He developed the Titan Leadership Academy for junior athletes, in which coaches of every sport annually choose athletes to participate in a curriculum to increase their leadership ability on and off the field.

Similarly, he's also served as school liaison for the Central Suburban League Leadership Conference, and has helped plan Glenbrook South's annual state testing process.

Mietus believes the key to leadership is building trust. To do that, he cites "the six 'Cs': connection, character, competence, consistency, communication and courage," he said.

"My big thing is creating a mission, a vision and core principles for the athletic department," said Mietus, who expects to create "the model for what an athletic department should look like."

There's one mission he'll fly one last time, as defensive coordinator for Glenbrook South's varsity football team.

Like most who relinquish coaching for full-time administration, he'll miss it. But he believes he'll bring about more good than he would containing quarterbacks.

"In the grand scheme of things, I can only affect 50 to 75 football players in a season, but if I can teach other coaches to be better leaders, then I'll be better able to impact the 1,300 student-athletes at Glenbrook South High School," Mietus said.

"Knowing that this is going to be my last year to coach football is hard, but also I know I'll be able to serve coaches, and I think that'll replace that void. I've been coaching for 16 years, and when you coach 16 years you develop close relationships with athletes. That part is coming to an end, but a new process for me is starting. I'm just really excited to be able to give back to Glenbrook South."

Tom Mietus has been appointed as Glenbrook South's athletic director, effective July 1. COURTESY OF GLENBROOK SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
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