New Chapter for Lemont Football

 

Courtesy of LHS Football

by Ben Groselak
Sports writer

   Lemont High School hired Bret Kooi to be the new head football coach on Feb. 10. Kooi will take over for former head coach Eric Michaelsen, who was hired as the school’s new principal starting Jul. 1, 2014.
   Under Michaelsen, Lemont football went 106-33 over 12 seasons and had nine straight playoff appearances. The football team has also won seven conference championships and has had two runner-up finishes at the IHSA Class 6A State level. Kooi said, “I would be so fortunate to continue the success [Michaelsen] and his staff has had. That is sure what we are striving for.”
   Kooi has 20 years of head coaching experience from Joliet West High School and Lockport High School. He had a combined record of 116-85. Kooi also had a combined 10 IHSA Playoff runs with two state titles as well.
   “As in anything that you do, you learn from your past experiences and the coaches you’ve had the opportunity to work with. I have been so blessed to have worked with amazing coaches as well as people,” Kooi commented.
   Kooi’s history of excellence as well as his many important qualities of  leadership, knowledge and a will to win helped him gain the position at Lemont.
   Athletic director and assistant principal to extra-curricular activities John Young said, “Coach Kooi has successful head coaching experience, tremendous knowledge of the game including State Championship titles and is a proven leader of young men and adults.”
   Michaelsen established a great foundation for Kooi to step in. Michaelsen left Kooi with a great staff as well as a culture of younger players with great potential. Kooi said, “I told myself if the perfect opportunity came up to be a head coach again that I would try for it and I felt Lemont was just that.”
   The football season is a long ways away, which gives Kooi an opportunity to assess his new situation and come up with a plan to utilize the talent on the roster to the best of its ability. “Coach Kooi will take time to assess all our current attributes as well as instill those attributes that have made his teams successful,” Young said. “He will be able to choose what is best for Lemont football. He realizes the value of a talented staff and player roster.”
   Lemont football has always had a great history of hard work and success, and, with Kooi now at the helm, the future looks bright as always.