Having coached four sports during my
teaching career at St. Ignatius, it should be no surprise that I’m still
interested in how the athletic programs are doing. Being of a “certain age”…my father-in-law
would say, that I’ve “left the kids behind”…, attending games and matches is somewhat
difficult, but I regularly check the athletics page of the Ignatius
website to find the teams’ results.
When the basketball season ended, I saw that the varsity ended
the season with a 15-15 record. I have no
idea if this result was disappointing or acceptable for the coaches and players,
but, as an outsider, it seemed like a respectable record. Of course, at the beginning of the season,
there is always the hope of “greater things”.
I also found out that Coach Rich
Kehoe is retiring. Coach
Kehoe came to Ignatius from Loyola Academy in 1979, coaching the Wolfpack
basketball team from 1979 to 1986 and then came back as an assistant to John
Tracy from 1996 to 2002. Rich took over
the head coaching spot again in the fall of 2002.
He also coached boys’ tennis from ’79 to
1984. He resumed coaching tennis for a
short time starting in ’97. I never got to know Rich
very well while I was still teaching at SICP, but, from what I did know of him,
I have nothing but the greatest respect for his coaching skills. This opinion was solidified when Jim Luzzi,
the long-time soccer coach, told me that he (Jim) learned more about how to
coach from watching Rich than any other coach with whom he was acquainted.
During his career at Saint Ignatius, Coach Kehoe
notched 329 wins. Coach Kehoe’s overall career record at the school was
329-227. Other career highlights include: IHSA Sweet 16 in 2000; IHSA Sectional
Champions in 2000; IHSA Regional Champions in 1972, 1977, 1992, 2000, 2003,
2012, 2015; Chicago Catholic League Champions in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 2000,
2004, 2005 (Co-Champs), 2012 (Co-Champs), 2015 (Co-Champs).
School President, Fr. Michael Caruso, SJ said,
“Saint Ignatius has been blessed by Coach Rich Kehoe's work for so many
years. The athletes as well as our entire school community will always be
grateful for the wonderful program he has built. Some of the most
exciting times in our community have taken place at home basketball games. Our
prayers and best wishes will be with them.”
School Athletic Director, Paul Ickes, said,
"Rich Kehoe is one of the last 'old school' boys basketball coaches in the
Chicagoland area. Rich's own players and opposing coaches were
tremendously impressed--as was I-- with the amount and level of preparation
Rich dedicated in scouting opponents, reviewing game tape, and preparing practice
and game plans.”
Please join us in congratulating Rich Kehoe on an
incredible coaching career.
