What's the 411 on Chicago Christian?
- Thread starter HotBeer
- Start date
Small Christian school. When I mean Christian school, I really mean it, most enrolled there are devote Christians or children of devote Christians. Always have been pretty solid and competitive in athletics. Many go on to play at Trinity Christian College across the way. Their new Football Head Coach this year was Mount Carmel's Sophomore Head Coach in 2023 and did really well.
I'm not surprised you haven't heard of Chicago Christian. In 57 years, we've had little football success over the years. We made the quarterfinals once in the playoffs in 2007 and then got whipped by Driscoll Catholic near the end of their 8 years of titles run. We get our football talent mostly from our two feeder schools, and one year it can be very minimal and every so often we get a great class or two. Almost never do good football players outside the two schools choose CCHS for its football program because those good players have Mt. Carmel, Brother Rice, Marist, Providence and St. Rita to choose from if they really want top echelon football private schools.
At one time 50 years ago we had enrollment around 750, now we are at 316. Been declining for years and are continually trying to reverse the decline. As other small private schools know, that is REALLY hard to do. 316 enrollment for a high school with years of declining enrollment is dangerous territory.
The change that propelled us this year was hiring a new coach CJ Cesario at the end of last year and then good assistant coaches. They installed a new competent offense and brought great coaching.
CCHS had a talented Senior class of 13 players this year. Nearly all of them attended one of our two feeder K-8 Christian schools and played together for years. In this way, we really were no different than several of the top 2a schools we played in the playoffs - Maroa-Forsyth, Farmington, & Tri-Valley. All their players are local and come from a centralized source.
We needed a coach to maximize that talent, effort and teamwork. We got one, and he did. We could see our team was different immediately during the first few games of the year - mentally and physically tough, and better tackling. But honestly I never expected or dreamed we would win a State title this year.
At one time 50 years ago we had enrollment around 750, now we are at 316. Been declining for years and are continually trying to reverse the decline. As other small private schools know, that is REALLY hard to do. 316 enrollment for a high school with years of declining enrollment is dangerous territory.
The change that propelled us this year was hiring a new coach CJ Cesario at the end of last year and then good assistant coaches. They installed a new competent offense and brought great coaching.
CCHS had a talented Senior class of 13 players this year. Nearly all of them attended one of our two feeder K-8 Christian schools and played together for years. In this way, we really were no different than several of the top 2a schools we played in the playoffs - Maroa-Forsyth, Farmington, & Tri-Valley. All their players are local and come from a centralized source.
We needed a coach to maximize that talent, effort and teamwork. We got one, and he did. We could see our team was different immediately during the first few games of the year - mentally and physically tough, and better tackling. But honestly I never expected or dreamed we would win a State title this year.
Jack, do you know roughly what % of 8th graders from your two feeder schools choose to attend CC vs other schools year in and year out? Just wondering if the football success experienced this year might influence a larger percentage of your feeder schools' 8th graders into choosing CC next year. Also does CC get many kids from outside the two feeder schools who are from families belonging to southwest suburban Christian Reformed Church communities?
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Are the feeder schools fielding football teams? Or are these kids playing for Pop Warner/etc. who happen to attend the feeders?
The % has gone down over the years. 40 years ago it was probably 95%. Now it can range from 50 - 75%. Even if the % went up because of football success, which I very much doubt, then we are talking only another 10-20 kids.
We've started to get a few other kids from other Christian schools in the South suburbs such as South Holland/Lansing because Illiana Christian moved to Dyer, Indiana. We get a few from Trinity Lutheran in Tinley Park also.
They do not. They play locally for Pop warner/community teams. During COVID year 2020 or 2021 when Palos Stars did NOT field teams that year, we had 3-4 kids from Palos go and play for Homer Stallions.
Clarification - Our feeder schools used to be almost entirely - 90%+ - comprised of students from Reformed and Christian Reformed church communities. Unfortunately, that has declined a great deal over the years. We get students from other Christian churches but it is random after these and the couple others I identified in my previous post.
As of last year the Knights had to forfeit a game due to low numbers. What an awesome run!!! Had friends go to school there. Ms Fransman a family friend taught there. I always wondered especially during their good run years ago why Shepard wouldn’t play them but other ex Sica schools did. Battle Of Palos Heights!!!! The old PSL too with Luther South & North,Providence Catholic,Walther Lutheran & I missing one or two others.
Aurora Central Catholic, the early days of Wheaton Academy and even early Nazareth Academy. We even beat Naz in football in the mid 80's a couple times!
Proud PSLer too. when I was at Naz it was Walther, Naz, ACC, St. Bede, CC, LN, LS, St Gregory.
Chicagoland Christian football programs really have a great opportunity right now. It is my belief that there are several parents who would love to send their kids to Christian schools but don't because of the quality of their football programs.
Specifically, Wheaton Academy and Chicago Christian have the opportunity to become something special. Aurora Christian as well if they can get their act together. I would encourage these programs to continue to build and then join the CCL.
Chicago Christian recently hired a former football player as their superintendent and he brought on the football coach. They now have leadership that values football and wants to win. The have an OUTSTANDING football coach. I really think think this program can be on par with Naz, St. Francis and JCA.
Also a proud PCLer
Specifically, Wheaton Academy and Chicago Christian have the opportunity to become something special. Aurora Christian as well if they can get their act together. I would encourage these programs to continue to build and then join the CCL.
Chicago Christian recently hired a former football player as their superintendent and he brought on the football coach. They now have leadership that values football and wants to win. The have an OUTSTANDING football coach. I really think think this program can be on par with Naz, St. Francis and JCA.
Also a proud PCLer
Nonsense.
I have it on good authority that as a private school your success comes only at the ability to recruit elite players.
I'd be game for a SF/WA game next year. They did a scrimmage week 0. WA looked undersized compared to SF, not gonna take anything else from a scrimmage. It would be a good barometer to see where the WA program is at, though I do not think it would end well at all for WA next year.Chicagoland Christian football programs really have a great opportunity right now. It is my belief that there are several parents who would love to send their kids to Christian schools but don't because of the quality of their football programs.
Specifically, Wheaton Academy and Chicago Christian have the opportunity to become something special. Aurora Christian as well if they can get their act together. I would encourage these programs to continue to build and then join the CCL.
Chicago Christian recently hired a former football player as their superintendent and he brought on the football coach. They now have leadership that values football and wants to win. The have an OUTSTANDING football coach. I really think think this program can be on par with Naz, St. Francis and JCA.
Also a proud PCLer
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CC went 9-1 in 2006 and 10-2 the following season with much help from QB Alex Haan who went on to contribute at North Central at TE. Head Coach at that time was Mark Vander Kooi, current LWE AD. CC baseball was 3rd in state in 2017 Class 2A with a 40-2 season record.
Oh man, that really made me laugh ! These posts here have really captured what Chicago Christian is about. Its been a season to remember for sure. Not really sure how much more I can add except I've always been a proud alumni. Through hard work and sacrifice my wife and I were blessed to send our 3 kids through the K-12 system. No scholarships or free money . I have chosen not to get involved in the public/private debate here , but obviously you can figure out where my thoughts are. Undoubtedly CC will get multiplied but we will line up and play who is next on the schedule
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Yes, we are a Christian school. But remember McCaravan, our Head Coach came from MC , so we enjoy bringing a very physical aspect to the game also 😉
Vander Kooi was great for the school, an alum with a great football mind. Lead to a great opportunity at LWW which lead him to his current position at LWE.
That 06 team went undefeated in the regular season before losing in rd 1 as a 1 seed in 4A North. QB Haan got injured midway through the playoff game.
It’s funny when the Knights were getting pounded it was they suck & should drop football & people laughed. When they start winning they are cheaters & recruiters lol.
He brought a nice playbook with him didn't he! 😀. He's a great Coach, the players and parents really liked him. And I meant no offense obviously by saying it's a true Christian school, I know it's not a fire and brimstone hallaluah type preaching but I do know they take their Christian teaching seriously with a Faith first mentality. Some people will go to a Catholic school for various reasons and faith and religion may not be first and foremost even though it's stressed and practiced, I know the majority of the CC students take the testament they make seriously.
CCHS invited past head football coaches to the sideline of the championship game. Vander Kooi came to the game and had a sideline pass. A nice touch by the program.
