Former Marian star Holecek leads Loyola Academy into title game

Loyola Academy athletic director Pat Mahoney remembers when he interviewed John Holecek for the head football coach job six years ago.

He saw the fire and passion for the game when Holecek, a Marian Catholic and University of Illinois grad, didn't so much as talk about winning or losing.

"John got up and got in a linebacker's stance and got in position and showed the technique," Mahoney said. "He talked about technique, knowing how to play the game and how academics are a big part of any school's sports program."

The Ramblers had come off of 6-5 and 6-6 seasons under Carl Favaro and Mahoney and the staff and alumni were looking for someone to take the program up a notch in the competitive Catholic League Blue.

"We knew we had to step out of the box," Mahoney said. "We knew we had to hit a home run, but we knew we could strike out if we didn't make the right choice."

There is no question Holecek is the right man for the job. He leads the Ramblers (13-0) in to today's Class 8A state championship against Bolingbrook at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium. In his six years as coach, Loyola is 62-16 and this year's team set a school record for wins and will be trying to win the program's second state football title.

The Ramblers won the Class 6A title in 1993 under John Hoerster.

"There is no secret to what we do here except we work hard and the coaching staff and kids really work hard," Holecek said. "The 25 days we have in the summer, that the IHSA allows, we put in a lot of time and get a lot done.

"It also helps we have smart kids. Ninety-nine percent of our students go on to four-year schools. I think it really helps when you have that type of kid who is driven."

They certainly can take a cue from their coach. Holecek starred at Marian and Illinois, then played eight seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers and Atlanta Falcons. Marian coach Dave Mattio said he saw Holecek's fire back in Holecek's prep days.

"Most people don't know he was a good catcher and could have been a great wrestler," Mattio said. "Even then, I saw how he never quit and everything had to be perfect. He was a tough kid, I compare him to street kid because of his toughness and being hard-nosed on the field. He played hard and the thing about John, he could run for a big guy."

Holecek knew when he took over, the program was not bad, it just needed to get better.

"I know a lot of people say North Side (shore) kids are not as tough as South Side, so  I knew I had to bring that to the program," Holecek said. "My kids really work hard and they are tough."

Both mentally and physically. The Ramblers trailed Glenbard North 13-0 at halftime in one semifinal contest, but came back to win 28-13.

"It was a touchdown and two field goals and I knew the defense had played well," Holecek said. "We asked the offense to score twice and two touchdowns in a half is not a lot. I think the kids showed what they were made of because we were never down two scores the whole year. They were in a tough position and came back and shut them out the second half."