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Lepsche texted the players this morning and has left St Francis. Quit the teaching job as well. going back to college. Kids found out after he did not show up to morning lifting.
Yes, difficult situation for any coach. Maybe not a great fit, but he is a good coach.If I'm not mistaken wasn't this an extremely late hire last year?
If I'm not mistaken wasn't this an extremely late hire last year?
Tim, Yes this was a late hire. But Lepsche was a terrible coach with the kids. Saying things that he thought less of them , etc.... Never bonded withthe kids. The kids never liked him and is no loss for Francis. If hes going to Benedictine I'm sorry for them. It got so bad that Francis wasnt going to be able to have a Varisty team next year as many of the kids were not coming out. Will still be lucky to roll out a Varsity team for 2017. With only 5 Seniors!!!If I'm not mistaken wasn't this an extremely late hire last year?
Tim, Yes this was a late hire. But Lepsche was a terrible coach with the kids. Saying things that he thought less of them , etc.... Never bonded withthe kids. The kids never liked him and is no loss for Francis. If hes going to Benedictine I'm sorry for them. It got so bad that Francis wasnt going to be able to have a Varisty team next year as many of the kids were not coming out. Will still be lucky to roll out a Varsity team for 2017. With only 5 Seniors!!!
Hopefully they move quickly. Last time the process took 5 weeks. If you have a good coach make the move hire him and give him the resources to build a program.Theres a couple VERY good and qualified resumes in the AD desk.
Sounds like a serious culture problem for st. Francis. Poor leadership has lead them to this point, hopefully they can rebound. Great history.
With the recent $5 million "bring it all back home" fundraising initiative which made the new football stadium a reality, you would think St. Francis would be able to attract a top flight football coach.
CatWith the recent $5 million "bring it all back home" fundraising initiative which made the new football stadium a reality, you would think St. Francis would be able to attract a top flight football coach.
If your daughters play soccer or volleyball they will be fine. Football is treated like a stepchild.My girls aren't near HS age, but with the talk I've heard around here and the area I would not even let them consider St Francis at this juncture, and it's a fine academic institution. Too many bad vibes.
If your daughters play soccer or volleyball they will be fine. Football is treated like a stepchild.
Just curious. Who was the coach from 1970-1992? No name is listed. He racked up a 61-113-1 record and .355 winning percentage over 23 years. Talk about rewarding poor performance...
Actually from what I hear, Women sports are the future at SF. Not sure they are calling the 5mm stadium a football stadium anymore. Not sure any male sports are the future there. The female to male quotient has been way out of balance the last couple of years for in coming classes. Not necessarily a bad thing, just an interesting observation.My girls aren't near HS age, but with the talk I've heard around here and the area I would not even let them consider St Francis at this juncture, and it's a fine academic institution. Too many bad vibes.
That is my point. They don't care about balance and the male sports. They refuse to get creative when the HC needs coaches in the building. If the new assistant coach does fit perfectly into their job opening he doesn't get hired. Fenwick and Nazareth created new jobs for their head coaches and paid them public school money. They also give their team resources and support. The 2007 team was a great team and they caught lightning in a bottle. Three years ago the HC tried to hire an Oline coach hired as a permanent substitute teacher(20K). This kid was a great coach and volunteered the year before hoping that a spot would open, they dragged their feet and never hired him. He has now been at Marist for 3 years adding to their success and program. That is one example of many where they don't support the coach. They simply don't "get" football. What school AD tells your players that "winning doesn't matter?"Actually from what I hear, Women sports are the future at SF. Not sure they are calling the 5mm stadium a football stadium anymore. Not sure any male sports are the future there. The female to male quotient has been way out of balance the last couple of years for in coming classes. Not necessarily a bad thing, just an interesting observation.
Since 1978 there have been 12 head coaches. That's an average of about three years a coach. In between 1978 and 1992 there were four coaches but I don't know who was around before 1978.
The best people they've had are Greg Purnell who won 5A in 2008 and Mike Fitzgerald who coached SF to the semifinals in 2014.Outside of that, the guys who SF have hired weren't worth a crap. Its a long running joke in the conference before SF went to the CCL that SF had always screwed up when hiring head football coaches.
I hope SF gets this hire right. Its a good time of the year to hire and I think there are some good coaches out there that they can pick from.
Groff,
I have wanted a certain coach from a certain school in Lombard for two years now and I know he is in the running for a job nearby now.
The school has hired two good coaches in the past 10 years and both guys have showed SF can be a great program WHEN THEY HIRE THE RIGHT PEOPLE!
Coach A is retired permanently. But yeah I actually know who you want there.
Do you know if he got the job nearby? He would be great at SF.
That is my point. They don't care about balance and the male sports. They refuse to get creative when the HC needs coaches in the building. If the new assistant coach does fit perfectly into their job opening he doesn't get hired. Fenwick and Nazareth created new jobs for their head coaches and paid them public school money. They also give their team resources and support. The 2007 team was a great team and they caught lightning in a bottle. Three years ago the HC tried to hire an Oline coach hired as a permanent substitute teacher(20K). This kid was a great coach and volunteered the year before hoping that a spot would open, they dragged their feet and never hired him. He has now been at Marist for 3 years adding to their success and program. That is one example of many where they don't support the coach. They simply don't "get" football. What school AD tells your players that "winning doesn't matter?"
Epic, trust me there is very little support for football. They need a serious leadership and culture change.
You took the words out of my mouth. They have plenty of empty seats to fill. Sometimes you need a business mentality. Good coaches want to part of great cultures. They would be amazed at the number of great volunteer coaches that would flock to a committed school. For years Wheaton South had a number of great volunteers that loved the culture. Glenbard North Wrestling has 10-11 coaches! Half our volunteers. Great academics coupled with great sports is a formula for long term strength and stability. I think with the right leadership and a culture change Francis could back on track quickly.The school needs to understand that if they pay good money for a great coach, it will pay for itself easily.
Aurora Christian started a wresting program this year. They started by hiring a coach in the wrestling community with a highly respected reputation. Kids are coming to the school to wrestle for this guy and get the program off the ground - and its working big time.
Same with football - even more so. Hiring the right guy will result in families choosing St. Francis over other schools. With tuition at $12,000 per kid, it doesn't take a lot of new students to pay for a quality coach.
Make the investment in a quality coach and the athletes will follow. There is a wealth of football talent in the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn area. Francis needs to have the will to compete with Montini, Benet and Marmion on the private side and also WWS, Wheaton North and Glenbard West. Lots of talented kids playing football in those 6 schools. Heck, even Wheaton Academy is developing a nice football program (for a cool $16,000 per year). No lack of athletes or money. There truly are no excuses.
St. Francis is a sleeping giant...waiting for the right mix of coaches, players & administration to awaken it.
JL
St. Francis is a sleeping giant...waiting for the right mix of coaches, players & administration to awaken it.
JL
Actually from what I hear, Women sports are the future at SF. Not sure they are calling the 5mm stadium a football stadium anymore. Not sure any male sports are the future there. The female to male quotient has been way out of balance the last couple of years for in coming classes. Not necessarily a bad thing, just an interesting observation.
What would be the new position Naz created. Racki is Dean of Students. Far from a newly created position.That is my point. They don't care about balance and the male sports. They refuse to get creative when the HC needs coaches in the building. If the new assistant coach does fit perfectly into their job opening he doesn't get hired. Fenwick and Nazareth created new jobs for their head coaches and paid them public school money. They also give their team resources and support. The 2007 team was a great team and they caught lightning in a bottle. Three years ago the HC tried to hire an Oline coach hired as a permanent substitute teacher(20K). This kid was a great coach and volunteered the year before hoping that a spot would open, they dragged their feet and never hired him. He has now been at Marist for 3 years adding to their success and program. That is one example of many where they don't support the coach. They simply don't "get" football. What school AD tells your players that "winning doesn't matter?"
Epic, trust me there is very little support for football. They need a serious leadership and culture change.
Isnt that the case with every school? If you can get the right mix of coaches, players and administration at any school you will be successful.
Since 1978 there have been 12 head coaches. That's an average of about three years a coach. In between 1978 and 1992 there were four coaches but I don't know who was around before 1978.
The best people they've had are Greg Purnell who won 5A in 2008 and Mike Fitzgerald who coached SF to the semifinals in 2014.Outside of that, the guys who SF have hired weren't worth a crap. Its a long running joke in the conference before SF went to the CCL that SF had always screwed up when hiring head football coaches.
I hope SF gets this hire right. Its a good time of the year to hire and I think there are some good coaches out there that they can pick from.
Absolutely. It isn't rocket science. It's a decision. I've seen the Francis kids play on several occasions. They've got the ability. Great area to draw from. Culture simply needs to be tweeked. I'm always amused by people who comment, "Winning isn't everything." They usually say things like that because they don't truly believe in their young men, or they believe that winning will make their lives too complicated. Winning is hard. Winning consistently requires exhausting commitment.
JL
What is the total enrollment at St. Francis?
What is the male/female ratio?
Is enrollment on the rise, decline or holding steady?
Don't agree. Too much competition from the publics and privates in that area. I see them as what they always been. A decent .500 program who occasionally will get a stud class and go places, I.e. With Barz, 2008, and 2014. They're in a football hotbed with not much tradition and other privates who are either better academically (benet) or athletically (montini).St. Francis is a sleeping giant...waiting for the right mix of coaches, players & administration to awaken it.
JL