Heres a kid who was 1,500 miles away from home. So I really know this whole Girl Dad thing and I really understand it. East St. Louis and Illinois have a long history together. Sunkett: We always have alumni come back and they make you reflectback on those days. Coach John Merritt played college football at Washington University for Head Coach Larry Kindbom before ending his playing career to become a coach. St. Bonaventure sits on a beautiful 500-acre residential campus in western New York's Southern Tier, 70 miles south of Buffalo and 90 miles east of Erie, Pa. CHAMPAIGN Several of East St. Louis football coach Darren Sunkett's players havegone on to play college ball at Illinois. Saint Louis', MO,'s St. Mary's wide receiver Kevin Coleman is the No. Due to our strong athletic traditions, several professional athletes and Olympians have emerged from East St. Louis, Illinois. We also have three sophomore lineman to throw in with them. (Wide receiver) Dominic (Lovett) took his game to another level last season. It's something they are battling with when I talk to them. Just having that structure for helping to keep kids off the streets and keeping our kids engaged and in a safe haven is so important. Team . EDGYTIM: You've been at East St. Louis for a lot of years now, and you know firsthand that high school sports in general means so much to yourcommunity. We can see Illinois is getting an electric football player. Hopefully we can find a way for our kids to at least experience at least a partial season. This year I'd like Tyler to be just a little more vocal as a leader. How has it impacted you as a coach? In my opinion, I think Corys a great hire. They were the number one ranked team in the country last year and they are supposedly going to be the preseason number one ranked team again in the nation for 2020. I understand the hurdles we went through as a program and it just makes us stronger for the future. I've been doing this now for a long time, and sometimes you sit back and it hits you like, "Wow I've really aged" in this game. I don't think people understand how hard our kids work and how well conditioned we are each year.  Dominic took a while to get adjusted after he transferred in. EDGYTIM: With the current coronaviruspandemic, I imagine that your job as athletic director has been challengingand in many ways we are in unchartedwaters. The Football Spartans first began play under Coach Bob "the Bear" Christian who led the Spartans to their first State Title appearance against Parkwood (Joplin) in 1975. We talked already about the two freshmen linemen back for next season and it's just about getting them in the best shape possible and they have nothing but upside. (Chicago, IL), Oswego (Bolingbrook, IL), Thornwood Download our free tuition assistance index and learn how other families areaffording De Smet Jesuit. Hes worked his way up the ranks, and hes built some great relationships here in the St. Louis metro area. (Calumet City, IL), West Aurora Sunkett and I cover everything from his . EDGYTIM: I love your schedule each year because you take on everyone. 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Lake Forest, IL), Warren Township To Access The Forms Click Here. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Email Address Phone Mailstop; Tom Matukewicz: Head Coach tuke@semo.edu: 651-2110 651-2110: 7000 Immediately following his playing career, Donnie joined the coaching ranks, starting off with high school coaching jobs in Florida, first as a Defensive Backs coach in Tarpon Springs East Lake H.S. Conference championships are awarded in 11 sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track, volleyball and wrestling. Hes been our leading receiver the last two years. The De Smet Jesuit Football Program has a long history of success on and off the field. I havent heard anything on it. We were prepared but we weren't prepared. Growing up I never had the opportunity to leave Camden. East St. Louis Senior High School 4901 State St. (Google map, other maps) East St. Louis, IL 62205-1759 . (The board usually decides on rehiring coaches in November.) (Plainfield, IL), Benet Academy Youve won a lot of games including two state tiles, and you still have plenty of talent. Out of almost 500 applicants, Briana Morales was selected for this honor because of the positive impact she makes with vulnerable students, her dedication to personalized, competency-based education, her passion for educational research and policy development, as well as her commitment to supporting colleagues and future educators through Affinity Groups and more. Hopefully, the NCAA will allow him to play right away and Illinois fans will have the opportunity to see Jeff play this year.. I think thats where were going. During his eight seasons at John Burroughs he held a record of 67-36 with three Metro League championships, three district championships, three final four appearances, two state finals and a Class 3 State Championship in 2015. As everyone knows we are in an impoverished area where our crime rate is different than suburban communities. He was able to stretch the offense vertically and he was that thumper we were missing in our offense. After two seasons as Special Teams Coordinator, John became the Head Coach at John Burroughs. Its an important game. I really didn't think we could be beat after that game. (Arlington Heights, IL), East St. Louis I'm hoping they are staying engaged educationally since sports have been taken away from them. <\/p>\n

EDGYTIM: One of the trademarks of your football program is you aren't afraid to travel and will play anyone, anywhere. It keeps them in a safe environment for at least 8-10 hours a day. Gettis expects a rough-and-tumble Southwestern Conference affair. Darren Sunkett: Theyre both outstanding athletes. Darren Sunkett: Yeah, predicting that can be difficult. It's taught me to treat every kid with respect like you treat your own kids because you might wake up one morning and never have a chance to talk to that kid ever again. Our kids came in and competed their butts off and we jumped on them early. The SHIELD Illinois saliva-based PCR test is also available weekly to test students or staff for COVID to promote a safe learning environment. In 2015 he was named the National Football Foundation, St. Louis Football Coaches Association, and Missouri Football Coaches Association coach of the year in Class 3. Our high schools, our middle schools and our grade schools are safe havens for our kids. Check here for the COVID Data Dashboard. Hell be a lot closer to her and a lot closer to the mother, who he has a great relationship with. While not being as prolific as his first-round selection put him on track to be, Becht enjoyed a long career thanks to solid blocking abilities. Just trying to find an answer for their quarterback (Mark Skoronski) was a big challenge. T. Dismukes. Sunkett: I'vegot three of them(girls). (Chicago, IL), Lake Zurich East St. Louis Football Roster. Jeff came right behind Terry and broke all of Terrys records. How much did that impact his decision to transfer to Illinois? Supporting Phillipss offense will be a litany of offensive coaches that comprise: Offensive Coordinator: Bruce Gradkowski - A former quarterback himself, Gradkowski had a 10-year-long career in the NFL under his belt. Apply today! Darren Sunkett: Its definitely grown. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Maine South Youre talking about three great athletes who can really keep this thing going and Cory definitely has a great relationship with all three of those guys. *. Darren Sunkett: Ive known Cory for quite some time. Just to be able to give out kids a chance to see other environments, to see how other people live and give them the opportunity to travel and see other cities is something some kids never get to do. East St. Louis School District 189 may have the perfect career opportunity for you! This kid is phenomenal when it comes to picking up the game plan. They were an inexperienced line and we didn't know where they would take us, but those kids worked their butt off to get us to succeed. It keeps them in a safe environment for at least 8-10 hours a day. Why was it important for Jeff to get closer to home? It's like I have 55-60 sons at one time. McVay, who attends East St. Louis High School in Illinois, is Alabama's 19th 2023 verbal commit, and he is the Crimson Tide's fourth offensive lineman pledge. School District 189 offers quality enrichment programming for rising 9th graders in June. I tell my kids all the time teams and coaches never forget losses, so we knew going in it would be a hostile environment. They are also loaded every year and they will be a partof the Classic and we have our hands loaded with both of those Missouri teams. The East St. Louis School District is deeply committed to ensuring the safety of all students, staff, and school visitors on a daily basis. (Chicago, IL), Bolingbrook So everything for us was film study all week and one or two walk thru's. Adding Dominic with Keontez Lewis, who's another kid who can stretch you vertically and also horizontally and they make it tough for other teams to defend us. (Decatur, IL), Barrington Hes going to be one of those guys who goes on and continues our tradition in playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. (Lincolnshire, IL), Thornton Township Week 3 we travel to California and play St. John Bosco for a national TV game. Illinois recruited Jeff Thomas pretty hard when he was a prep prospect. (Chicago, IL), Hinsdale Central (Du Quoin, IL), Lincoln-Way North On the defensive side, the Defenders will be employing: Defensive Coordinator: Donnie Abraham - A strong playing career in the NFL establishing his name, Abraham spent 8 years in the NFL, and was one of the better cornerbacks during his time there. Visit our new Trophy Room for stats and season recaps from all of our state championship teams. Sunkett: I tell everyone that I think top to bottom that team (2019) was my best team so far. Week 3 we travel to California and play St. John Bosco for a national TV game. Upload it. I think the coaching staff, the support, the administration and the community has been a big impact, he said. The 247Sports Composite is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankingsMore Info, Powered by innovative technology products, 247Sports employs a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on the nation's elite high school recruitsMore Info. (South Holland, IL), Duquoin Heres what they said, The sweet taste of victory! He's a very bright kid who has a very bright future. Linebackers: Chris Claiborne - Another NFL alum, Claiborne enjoyed a great collegiate career, where he was named an All-American. We looked forward to that game all year and the last time we played Batavia was in 2007 and we knocked them out of the playoffs and they were a very good football team back then. I look back at my childhood and  I grew up in Camden (New Jersey). src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. 6. East St. Louis mayor Gordon Bush, among many others, urged Shannon to reconsider, but while Shannon was thinking it over, the school board hastily convened a special meeting and voted 6-0 to accept his resignation. He has coached the state's winningest football program of all time to an impressive 166-50 record in 18 seasons including IHSA state football titles in 2008 (Class 7A), 2016 (Class 7A) and in dominant fashion last season in Class 6A. We didn't put any pads on and our walk thru were in the gym so I was highly concerned as far as going into that game. During the season I'm with my players more than I am with my family and my players are an extension of my family. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Last year right out of the gates you played Batavia at Batavia and in that first game your kids came out on fire (a 31-17 Flyers win). We need your help in this process. (Hinsdale, IL), Plainfield East I think just being around out guys made Dominic's take his game to another level and he also took our offense to another level. (Antioch, IL), Crystal Lake South Includes free meals & bus service! Weve still got some things we need to work both offensively and defensively, he said. Just the way Tyler is as a game manager and a play caller, he can only get better from here on out. But none were as highly-regarded as Jeff Thomas. Our gym just isn't big enough to have a proper walk thru. He joined the Defensive Backs coaching ranks, first with Illinois, then for the Orlando Apollos. Coaching Staff. Our teachers engage our young men with active learning and genuine relationships. Sunkett also discusses three more East St. Louis prospects receiving heavy Illini interest. Darren Sunkett: Yeah, I have a great relationship with both. After a three-year stint as a scout for the Los Angeles Rams, Woodbury became an assistant special teams coach with the Rams in 2020, before transferring to Morgan State University as a Tight Ends coach and Special Teams Coordinator. Proehl enjoyed a long, 17-year career in the NFL before becoming a coach with the Carolina Panthers for 6 seasons. We think it's an experience they will remember and cherish for a lifetime.<\/p>\n

EDGYTIM: You've had quite the run at East St. Louis over the past 18 plus years now. In September 2022, Gradkowski was officially hired by the St. Louis Battlehawks as their offensive coordinator. 6. Students collaborate for graffiti art to display in hallways. Learn more aboutThe Spartan Fund. Who do you want to represent? FILE VIDEO: Coach, players react to Flyers 9th state football title, Thats a wrap! Nous, Rivals, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Darren Sunkett: Well, with a guy like Jeff, you look for that father figure. Then you look at Lawaun Powell who is still developing. Rooted in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition, we nurture our students' spiritual growth beyond the classroom through retreats, prayer, and community Masses. Hes got a daughter here that hes raising. EDGYTIM: How important in the big picture was the Neuqua Valley win (a come from behind 50-48 win) Week 3 on the road in Naperville? (Lena, IL), St Charles East Christian Morton, who I coached, received a degree. De Smet Jesuit is a private Catholic high school serving young men in grades 9 - 12 in St. Louis, Missouri. It's justscary and you always want tobe there for yourkids. Its a confidence builder. East St. Louis School District 189 has worked diligently to develop a discipline improvement plan. : Mark Lee Defensive Line: La'Roi Glover Linebackers: Dave Steckel. Defensive Line: LaRoi Glover - A bonafide legend, Glover is perhaps the most recognizable name in the coaching ranks of the Battlehawks, if not the entire league. Its just great for the U of I.. It just depends on what side of the ball Coach Smith wants to play them on. De Smet Jesuit is a proud member of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), adhering to the bylaws adopted by the member schools. You like to get your kids out and experience other parts of the state and the country. I don't have any grand kids yet and I want to see my grand kids before I go. A couple guys, Stanley Green and James Knight, are on the team right now, and now add in Jeff Thomas. (Chicago, IL), Naperville Central Tyler committed to Missouri already while Dominic has multiple Power 5 offers and so does Keontez. Its a conference game. (Calumet City, IL), Evanston Township Right now they have 18 guys with Power 5 offers (chuckling), so yeah that's our Week 3 game. <\/p>\n

EDGYTIM: You bring back some really impressive kids from last season, especially on the offensive side of the football. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunkett:<\/strong> You start with (quarterback) Tyler (Macon), and he improved so much last year for us. Week 1 we have the 2018 Missouri state champion in Christian Brothers College and they are loaded year in and year out and they are always nationally ranked. (East Saint Louis, IL), Lincoln-Way East The biggest thing out of that game is we had a heat wave that week in St. Louis, and we didn't have an opportunity to practice that week. I've matured as a coach and you reflect back on the good times and you also reflect on the bad times, too. Becoming a defensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Storm, he moved to East Lake High School before becoming head coach of the Clearwater High School. East St. Louis Football. Louis Rams (1994-1995), Denver Broncos (1999) QB coach: Arizona Cardinals (2009 . We share a common goal to keep our youth and young people safe from gun violence. They really stepped upand got it done and led us to a state championship. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. (Oswego, IL), Hope College Prep Its not just about athletics and, What can you do for me? We need somebody whos definitely going to take care of our kids once theyre there. I definitely wish him well.. How tough is it now for those athleteswho get so much guidance and structure from those sports to then all of a sudden it's takenaway? Volunteer to be the statistician. (Byron, IL), Lake Forest Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. How have you been managing to handle all of the different aspects of dealing with the fallout from no spring sports?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Darren Sunkett:<\/strong> There is definitely no playbook on this thing, and with the governor extending all of the social distancing through the end of April we are now waiting on word from the IHSA on what we will do with spring sports. (Frankfort, IL), Byron Skyward - More than just an online report card, Class of 2023 - Blue Flames, Football, & Marching Band. Head Coach: Anthony Becht Director Team Operations: Anastasia Ali Director Player Personnel: Dave Boller Offensive Coordinator: Bruce Gradkowski Running Backs: Art Valero. I think just being around out guys made Dominic's take his game to another level and he also took our offense to another level. before moving into a head coaching position at St. Petersburg Gibbs H.S. Sunkett: You start with (quarterback) Tyler (Macon), and he improved so much last year for us. The Flyers finished second in state last fall, have nine state championships to their credit the last one coming in 2020 and again have a star-studded cast that includes University of Alabama and University of Illinois commits. 15. The biggest thing out of that game is we had a heat wave that week in St. Louis, and we didn't have an opportunity to practice that week. Anytime you get to play a team like East St. Louis, its pretty exciting. (Belleville, IL), Victor J Andrew I've also have had two players who were very close to me pass in Damien Nash and then Jaylon (McKenzie) and it makes me cherish every minute you spent with your kids. Theres also a rivalry between the two. Coach Robert Steeples led the Spartans to their 1st undefeated season in and their 2nd State Title in 2019 and finished as State Runner-Upin 2020. 2 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown and he's rated as the No. Glover joined the coaching ranks as a Defensive Line Coach for the Jets and the Chargers from 2017-20. Were in Illinois, so were Illinois-based. Hes going to make plays all over the field. Just trying to find an answer for their quarterback (Mark Skoronski) was a big challenge. (Lemont, IL), Maine West Full Roster. 3 wide receiver in the . What environment does Lovie and his staff have to provide Jeff in his time at Illinois? 2020 State Championships; 2019 State Championships; 2018 State Championships; 2017 State Championships; 2016 State Championships; Boys state placers, 1966-2020; Girls all-time state placers; Spring Sports . During the season I'm with my players more than I am with my family and my players are an extension of my family. The East St. Louis Unified Champions Basketball Team won the Second Place Title in the State Tournament! Week 1 we have the 2018 Missouri state champion in Christian Brothers College and they are loaded year in and year out and they are always nationally ranked. AP Chemistry Exam, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM Be sure to review the current SHINE189 Newsletter. Ourmiddle school athletic program has won 30 IESA State Championship trophies. (Chicago, IL), St. Patrick So I really know this whole Girl Dad thing and I really understand it. Hes a rangy free safety who is very athletic and does a lot of things well. (Frankfort, IL), Normal Community West Saturdays game represents a snapshot of OFallon resurgence under Gettis. In 2020, 3 of the 10 top players in the state of Illinois were Flyers . You can put him inside at slot. (Wheaton, IL), Romeoville It's a fluid situation.<\/p>\n

EDGYTIM: You've been at East St. Louis for a lot of years now, and you know first hand that high school sports in general means so much to your community. Without a doubt, East St. Louis is nationally-renowned program, he said. The whole Kobe thing really hit home especially now with this coronavirus.  It's just scary and you always want to be there for your kids. East St. Louis has been a dominant force in the state of Illinois for several decades, winning numerous state Championships and countless conference titles. Once you sit down and talk to him and see what hes all about, you realize hes definitely going to take care of your kids. The Battlehawks will be playing their home games at The Dome at Americas Center.