Mitz can’t stay away from game

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The thought crossed Bill Mitz’s mind on the Saturday of the IHSA state football playoff semifinals.

Mitz watched part of the Prairie Ridge at Cary-Grove game, then caught Glenbard West at Lake Zurich. Having coached his last game at Stevenson, Mitz wondered, “What am I going to do next year?”

The answer came this month when Mitz was offered and accepted the head football coaching position at Jacobs. Mitz’s hiring became official at the District 300 school board meeting Monday night.

Mitz, 54, coached 28 seasons at Stevenson and resigned his position after the season. He will retire as physical education teacher in June.

“I have that burning desire [to coach],” Mitz said. “I’m a football guy, man, and I’m really looking forward to coaching football at Jacobs. My wife [Donna] understands.”

Mitz’s teams were 197-98 during his stint as coach and made the playoffs each of the past 21 years. The Patriots were 10-1 last season, losing to Chicago Mount Carmel, 23-16, in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.

Mitz replaces Dean Schlueter, the winningest coach in Jacobs history at 55-68 during 13 seasons. Schlueter’s last three teams were a combined 8-19 and he was not rehired after the season. Mitz is familiar with the Fox Valley Conference since he lives in Fox River Grove and his son, Brian, quarterbacked Cary-Grove’s 2004 team to the Class 7A state championship game.

“I like the chance to build something,” Mitz said. “I want to come in and try to get a winning program. In my time around [principal] Michael [Bregy] and [athletic director] Tom [Ross] they’ve been very supportive. My chapter at Stevenson was done, now I’m sliding over to a new chapter.

“When this opened up, I knew I could be at the school in 10 minutes. I know the level of play in the Fox Valley, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Mitz plans on spending Wednesday at Jacobs meeting the players. He also is working on filling out his coaching staff and already has his summer camp dates set.

Rockall to Hurricanes: Kristian Rockall, a 30-year-old native of England, has been hired as Marian Central’s head boys soccer coach. Rockall has lived in the U.S. for six years and is director of the McHenry Area Soccer Federation. In addition, he coaches travel teams in McHenry and coaches with the Illinois Olympic Development Program.

Rockall takes over one of the area’s most successful programs. In the past four years, under former coach Mike Golda, the Hurricanes were 67-18-9 and won three regional titles. Each of the past two seasons, Marian won Class 2A regionals and in 2008 it won a sectional.

“It’s a great program, I know some of the guys who play there,” Rockall said. “I’m looking forward to trying to take it to the next level and win a state championship.”

Rockall played in high school in England and at Leeds University. As director of the MASF he organizes training schedules and writes curriculums for the programs.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the school, and I’m really excited,” Rockall said. “With the expertise and passion I have, I think we can build a real successful program.”

Return to Normal: Harvard senior Ashley Crosby thought she had competed in Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena for the last time in November when the Hornets’ volleyball team took fourth in the IHSA Class 2A State Tournament.

Crosby will return to ISU Thursday to shoot in the Class 2A Three-Point Showdown after taking fourth place at the Winnebago Sectional. Crosby, a starting guard for the Hornets, averaged 5.0 points a game and hit 12 three-pointers during the season.

Crosby was the final shooter in the eight-player field Thursday and needed six to force an overtime shoot-off. She hit seven, four on the final rack, to make it as the last qualifier and avoid overtime.

“It’s been a pretty interesting year,” said Crosby, who started at right-side hitter for the Hornets in volleyball. “I went downstate for volleyball and never thought I’d have that kind of experience again. It’s been amazing.”

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.