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Illinois H.S. Gridiron Graduates (Pro)
& Coaches
IHSFW.com would like to recognize not only those individuals who have made it to the professional level, but also the fans who have helped compile this list of players who have made it to a pro career. Scroll down for a list of Pro coaches from Illinois high schools.
Past Player Triva
Do you know which former player was the first black coach in the NFL? Here's a hint there's an award named after him. There are 3 players that are currently active that all suited up for a game between two state championship teams, all 3 have played in a Super Bowl as well, do you know who they are? Numerous players were in Pro-Bowls & Super Bowls, but who is the only person in the NFL Super Bowl era to play on both an undefeated & winless team? scorll to the bottom for the answers.
Below is a list of players by name, high school & active players.
Name / high school / active players
,
Past Player |
High School |
H.S.
Grad
Year |
Active
Pro |
Alstott, Mike |
Joliet (Catholic H. S.) |
1992 |
Yes |
Brown, Chris |
Naperville
(North) |
1999 |
Yes |
Clark, Danny |
Country
Club Hills (Hillcrest) |
|
Yes |
Diehl, David |
Chicago (Brother Rice) |
1998 |
Yes |
Diem, Ryan |
Carol Stream
(Glenbard North) |
199? |
Yes |
Earl, Glenn |
Naperville
(North) |
1999 |
Yes |
Edwards, Steve |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1997 |
Yes |
Evans, Frederick |
Chicago
(Morgan Park) |
2001 |
Yes |
Gardner, Rich |
Chicago (Hales Franciscan) |
|
Yes |
Grigsby, Boomer |
Canton |
2001 |
Yes |
Harris, Napoleon |
Harvey (Thornton) |
199? |
Yes |
Harrison, Rodney |
Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic) |
1991 |
Yes |
Hawkins, Brent |
Jerseyville (Jersey) |
2001 |
Yes |
Hayden, Kelvin |
Chicago (Hubbard) |
2001 |
Yes |
Hayward, Reggie |
Dolton (Thornridge) |
|
Yes |
Hentrich, Craig |
Alton
(Marquette) |
|
Yes |
Hodel, Nathan |
Belleville
(East) |
|
Yes |
Hodges, Reggie |
Champaign
(Centennial) |
2001 |
Yes |
Jackson, Frisman |
Chicago
(Morgan Park) |
|
Yes |
Kasper, Kevin |
Darien (Hinsdale
South) |
1987 |
Yes |
Mays, Corey |
Chicago
(Morgan Park) |
2001 |
Yes |
McCareins, Justin |
Naperville
(North) |
1997 |
Yes |
McGarigle, Tim |
Chicago (St. Patrick)
|
2002 |
Yes |
McNabb, Donovan |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1994 |
Yes |
Moorehead, Aaron |
Deerfield |
1998 |
Yes |
Ninkovich, Rob |
New Lenox (Lincoln
Way Central) |
2002 |
Yes |
Parker, Eric |
Joliet (Township) |
|
Yes |
Pashos, Tony |
Lockport (Twp.) |
1998 |
Yes |
Polk, Carlos |
Rockford
(Guilford) |
|
Yes |
Randle El, Antwaan |
Harvey (Thornton) |
1997 |
Yes |
Roth, Matt |
Villa
Park (Willowbrook) |
2001 |
Yes |
Steinbach, Eric |
New Lenox (Providence) |
|
Yes |
Turner, Michael |
North
Chicago |
|
Yes |
Ulrich, Matt |
Streamwood |
2001 |
Yes |
Wakefield, Fred |
Tuscola |
|
Yes |
Walter, Kevin |
Libertyville |
|
Yes |
Wynn, Renaldo |
Chicago (DeLaSalle) |
|
Yes |
Young, Bryant |
Chicago
Heights (Bloom Twp.) |
1990 |
Yes |
Young, Walter |
Park
Forest (Rich East) |
1998 |
Yes |
Zgonina, Jeff |
Mundelein
(Carmel) |
|
Yes |
Adams, Flozell |
Hillside
(Proviso West) |
1993 |
No |
Anderson, Damien |
Wilmington |
199? |
No |
Anderson, Erick |
Glenview
(Glenbrook South) |
1988 |
No |
Anderson, Kurt |
Glenview
(Glenbrook South) |
1997 |
No |
Armstrong, Otis |
Chicago (Farragut) |
1969 |
No |
Ashmore, Darryl |
Peoria (Central H.S.) |
1988 |
No |
Ball, Larry |
Rushville ? |
|
No |
Baugh, Tom |
Riverside (R.-Brookfield)
|
1981 |
No |
Becker, Kurt |
Aurora (East Aurora) |
1979 |
No |
Beebe, Don |
Maple Park (Kaneland) |
1984 |
No |
Betters, Doug |
Arlington
Heights (H.S.) |
1974 |
No |
Blackmon, Harold |
Chicago
(Leo) |
|
No |
Bohm, Ron |
Walnut HS |
1982 |
No |
Bowen, Matt |
Glen Ellyn
(Glenbard West) |
1995 |
No |
Bowens, Fabian |
Aurora
(Waubonsie Valley) |
199? |
No |
Bowman, Ken |
Rock
Island (H.S.) |
195? |
No |
Bradshaw, Morris |
Edwardsville
(H.S.) |
|
No |
Brady, Ed |
Morris |
1980 |
No |
Buchanan, Ray |
Maywood
(Proviso East) |
|
No |
Butkus, Dick |
Chicago
(C. Vocational) |
1960 |
No |
Butz, Dave |
Park Ridge
(Maine South) |
1969 |
No |
Calloway, Chris |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1986 |
No |
Canada, Larry |
Chicago
(Carver) |
1973 |
No |
Canade, Tony |
Chicago (Steinmetz) |
1940's |
No |
Casper, Dave |
Elgin
(St. Edward) |
1968 |
No |
Cornish, Frank |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1985 |
No |
Cox, Brian |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
1987 |
No |
Cryder, Bob |
O'Fallon |
1972? |
No |
Cushing, Matt |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1993 |
No |
Davis, Scott |
Plainfield (H.S.) |
1983 |
No |
Dennis, Mark |
Washington |
198? |
No |
Dieken, Doug |
Streator
(Twp.) |
|
No |
Dierking, Scott |
West
Chicago (H.S.) |
1975 |
No |
Dixon, Al |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
|
No |
Donahue, Mark |
Chicago (Brother Rice) |
1974 |
No |
Duggan, John |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1939 |
No |
Edgerson, Booker |
Rock
Island (H.S.) |
1958? |
No |
Fencik, Gary |
Barrington |
1972 |
No |
Ferrari, Ron |
Moweaqua
(H.S.) |
1977 |
No |
Finks, Jim |
Salem |
194? |
No |
Fleck, P.J. |
Maple Park (Kaneland) |
1999 |
No |
Foley, Tim |
Wilmette (Loyola Academy) |
1966 |
No |
Frederick, Andy |
Westchester
(St. Joseph) |
1973? |
No |
Gardner, Barry |
Harvey (Thornton) |
1995 |
No |
Garnett, David |
Naperville
(North) |
1989 |
No |
Garnett, Winfield |
Harvey (Thornton) |
199? |
No |
Gaunty, Steve |
South
Holland (Thornwood) |
1975 |
No |
Glanton, Derrick |
Lincoln |
|
No |
Glenn, Kerry |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
1981 |
No |
Goff, Mike |
LaSalle
(L.-Peru) |
1993 |
No |
Goich, Dan |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1960? |
No |
Golden, Jack |
Harvey (Thornton) |
199? |
No |
Goodrich, Dwayne |
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
199? |
No |
Goodspeed, Joey |
Oswego (HS) |
1997 |
No |
Goolsby, Mike |
Joliet (Catholic) |
2000 |
No |
Gossett, Jeff |
Charleston |
|
No |
Graham, Kent |
Wheaton
(North) |
|
No |
Graham, Otto |
Waukegan |
1941 |
No |
Grange, Harold "Red" |
Wheaton (H.S.) |
1922 |
No |
Grant, Earl |
Peoria
(Manual) |
1974 |
No |
Greene, Kevin |
Granite City |
|
No |
Guendling, Mike |
Arlington
Heights (St. Viator) |
1980 |
No |
Hallstrom, Ron |
Moline |
|
No |
Hampton, Jermanie |
Harvey (Thornton) |
199? |
No |
Harris, James |
East St. Louis (Lincoln) |
1987? |
No |
Heimburger, Craig |
Belleville
(East)
|
|
No |
Hicks, Tom |
Villa
Park (Willowbrook) |
1971 |
No |
Hill, Darrell |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1997 |
No |
Holecek, John |
Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic) |
1990 |
No |
Hood, Estus |
Kankakee (Eastridge) |
1974 |
No |
Hopkins, Brad |
Moline |
1989 |
No |
Hoskins, Bob |
Edwardsville
(H.S.) |
|
No |
Ivlow, John |
Plainfield (H.S.) |
1988 |
No |
Johnson, Bobby |
East St. Louis (Assumption) |
1981 |
No |
Johnson, Darrien |
Naperville
Central |
1998 |
No |
Johnson, Garrett |
Belleville
(East) |
1994 |
No |
Johnson, Jim |
Maywood
(Proviso East) |
1959 |
No |
Jones, Jim |
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
|
No |
Jordon, Shelby |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
1968 |
No |
Juriga, Jim |
Wheaton
(North) |
1982 |
No |
Kendricks, Marvin * |
Mt.
Vernon |
1967 |
No |
Kenn, Mike |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1974 |
No |
Kimbrough, Elbert |
Galesburg |
1957 |
No |
King, Andy |
Lincoln |
|
No |
Kittner, Kurt |
Schaumburg |
1998 |
No |
Lewis, Greg |
Richton
Park (Rich South) |
|
No |
Lick, Dennis |
Chicago (St. Rita) |
1972 |
No |
Linger, Adam |
Rock
Island (Alleman) |
|
No |
Lisch, Rusty |
Belleville
(West) |
1975 |
No |
Long, Chuck |
Wheaton
(North) |
1981 |
No |
Luke, R. J. |
Aurora
(Waubonsie Valley) |
199? |
No |
Machado, J.P. |
Monmouth (H.S.) |
1995 |
No |
Magac, Mike |
East St. Louis (Assumption) |
1956 |
No |
Mains, Gil |
Mt. Carmel |
1947 |
No |
Martin, Cecil |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1994 |
No |
Maryland, Russel |
Chicago (Young) |
|
No |
Matthews, Clay |
Winnetka
(New Trier) |
1974 |
No |
Matthews, Ira |
Rockford
(East) |
1975 |
No |
Mauck, Carl |
McLeansboro (Twp.) |
1965? |
No |
May, Marc |
Chicago
(South Shore) |
1973 |
No |
McCoy, Ivory |
Chicago
(Simeon) |
199? |
No |
McGill, Tim |
Chicago
(Lake View) |
2001 |
No |
Merritt, Ahmad |
Chicago (St. Rita) |
|
No |
Michalik, Arthur |
Chicago (Weber) |
1947 |
No |
Mitchell, Tywan |
Crete
(C.-Monee) |
1993 |
No |
Mitrione, Matt |
Springfield (S.H.G.) |
199? |
No |
Montgomery, Joe |
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
|
No |
Moore, Ken |
Chicago
(South Shore) |
1973 |
No |
Moorehead, Emery |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1972 |
No |
Muckenstrum, Jerry |
Belleville (Althoff) |
1969 |
No |
Nash, Damien |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
2001 |
No |
Nelson, Dennis |
Kewanee (H.S.) |
1965 |
No |
Nitschke, Ray |
Maywood
(Proviso East) |
1954 |
No |
Nomellini, Leo |
Chicago
(Crane) |
|
No |
O'bradovich, Ed |
Maywood
(Proviso East) |
195? |
No |
O'Dwyer, Matt |
Lincolnshire
(Stevenson) |
1990 |
No |
Odem, Joe |
Bethalto
(Civic Memorial) |
|
No |
Payton, Jarrett |
Arlington
Heights (St. Viator) |
2000 |
No |
Pearson, Barry |
Geneseo |
196? |
No |
Pendergrass, Jon |
Springfield (H.S.) |
199? |
No |
Pickens, Bob |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1962 |
No |
Pihos, Pete |
Chicago
(Austin) |
|
No |
Poe, Johnnie |
East St. Louis (Lincoln) |
1976 |
No |
Pollard, Fritz |
Chicago (Lane Tech) |
1910's |
No |
Prior, Mike |
Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic) |
1981 |
No |
Purnell, Jim |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1960 |
No |
Pyle, Mike |
Winnetka
(New Trier) |
1957 |
No |
Query, Jeff |
Maroa
(M.-Forsyth) |
1985 |
No |
Randolph, Al |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
1962? |
No |
Rice, Simeon |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1992 |
No |
Rodenhouser, Mark |
Addison (Addison
Trail) |
|
No |
Roe, Bill |
South
Holland (Thornwood) |
1975 |
No |
Rutgens, Jon |
LaSalle
(L.-Peru) |
1957 |
No |
Saunders, David |
Palatine
(H.S.) |
1993 |
No |
Schwantz, Jim |
Palatine
(Fremd) |
1988 |
No |
Scott, Victor |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
|
No |
Semple, Tony |
Lincoln |
|
No |
Shea, Aaron |
Ottawa
(Twp.) |
1995 |
No |
Sheldon, Mike |
Villa
Park (Willowbrook) |
1991 |
No |
Simmons, Tony |
Chicago (St. Rita) |
|
No |
Simpson, Tim |
East
Peoria |
|
No |
Smith, Brady |
Barrington |
1991 |
No |
Smith, Dave * |
Lansing
(Thornton Fractional South) |
1983 |
No |
Smith, Demetrius |
Oak Lawn (Richards) |
|
No |
Smith, Jimmy |
Kankakee (Westview) |
1979 |
No |
Stanley, Walter |
Chicago
(South Shore) |
1980 |
No |
Stewart, Joe |
Evanston
(Twp.) |
1974 |
No |
Stingley, Darryl |
Chicago
(Marshall) |
|
No |
Streets, Tai |
Harvey (Thornton) |
1995 |
No |
Sullivan, Marques |
Oak
Park (Fenwick) |
|
No |
Sutter, Ed |
Peoria
(Richwoods) |
|
No |
Swanson, Evar |
Galesburg |
1910's |
No |
Taylor, James |
Peoria
(Woodruff) |
|
No |
Thayer, Tom |
Joliet (Catholic H. S.) |
1979 |
No |
Turner, Keena |
Chicago
(C. Vocational) |
1976 |
No |
Turner, Nate |
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) |
1987 |
No |
Wagner, Mike |
Mundelein
(Carmel) |
|
No |
Wells, Mike |
Normal
(Community) |
196? |
No |
Winslow, Kellen |
East
St. Louis (Sr.) |
1976 |
No |
Woolfolk, Butch |
Kankakee (Eastridge) |
1978 |
No |
Wright, Eric |
East St. Louis (Assumption) |
|
No |
Zorich, Chris |
Chicago
(C. Vocational) |
1988 |
No |
*Not able to confirm professional information on this player.
? Information that was given but may be partial or missing.
Coaches
Callahan, Bill / Chicago (Mendel) 1975
Callahan, who played quarterback in high school and for Illinois Benedictine College, went on to coach at Oak Lawn & De La Salle high schools. Then on to assistant job at Illinois & Wisconsin. He accepted the job as the offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, before going to the Oakland Raiders to be their offensive coordinator before becoming their head coach in 2002. The Raiders made the Super Bowl in his first year as a NFL head coach.
Halas, George /Chicago
(Crane)
Legendary football player, coach & founder of the NFL. Started the NFL's first team the Decatur Staleys, in Decatur, IL. They would eventually become the Chicago Bears.
Levy, Marv /Chicago
(South Shore) 1944
Running back in high school & college. Went on to coach the NFL Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.
Shanahan, Michael / Franklin Park (East Leyden)
Head Coach with the Denver Broncos (1995-present). Lead the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998. As of 2002 season his career record is 96-61. Played quarterback at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park Attended Eastern Illinois in the early 1970s on a football scholarship, playing quarterback and defensive back. Shanahan's playing career was ended after he had a sustained split kidney injury in a EIU game. A last-second operation saved his life. After the injury Shanahan, a physical education major, worked as an assistant with Easterns football team while earning his bachelor's degree in 1974 and masters (also in physical education) in 1975. He was an assistant for the Oklahoma Sooners and won a national championship while there, a backfield coach at Northern Arizona . He returned to Eastern in 1978 as the Panthers offensive coordinator, helping the team win a Division II championship.
Scott, Al / Former Head coach at Chicago
(Simeon)
Played wide receiver in the NFL for the bengals in 69 & 70 had Bill Walsh as a wide receiver coach.
Know any NFL, CFL, Arena League or World League players who are a product of an Illinois High School. Past or present.
E-mail us at IHSFW@ihsfw.com.
Answers to Past Player Triva:
1. Fritz Pollard, Lane Tech
2. Mike Alstott, Donovan McNabb & Simeon Rice, Joliet Catholic & Mt. Carmel (Chicago)
3. Larry Ball, Rushville
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