Andriola new Dundee-Crown coach

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

Vito Andriola isn't one to shy away from a challenge, so it comes as no surprise that he is chomping at the bit to get to work as Dundee-Crown's new football coach.

Andriola was hired Thursday to guide a Chargers program that is in desperate need of a fresh start after failing to reach the state playoffs every year since 1994.

D-C hit a new low last fall when it endured its first winless season in program history. The Chargers have lost 17 consecutive games overall and 21 straight in the Fox Valley Conference dating to 2006.

Enter Andriola, who brings with him a track record of turning around programs. He spent four years as the head coach at Grayslake from 2001-04, helping the Rams end an 11-year playoff drought with an 8-3 season in 2003.

Andriola has also served an assistant coach at a number of schools. He spent the past six years as defensive coordinator at Glenbrook South, helping coach Mike Knoll turn around a Titans program that went eight seasons without making a playoff appearance prior to its current run of six straight trips to the postseason.

"We're going to try at Dundee-Crown to be the hardest working team in the state of Illinois," Andriola said. "People said when we went to Grayslake and (Glenbrook South) it wouldn't be able to be done. It comes down to the program, the coaches and the players.

"Good things happen to people who work hard, and my motto is that the key to success is hard work."

Andriola says his coaching career took off during a 14-year stay as an assistant on coach Bob Bradshaw's staff at Woodstock. Andriola also spent a few years in 1990s as an assistant to former D-C coach Bob Carlson, and he had a stint as an assistant at Larkin with former Royals coach Dale Schabert prior to getting the job at Grayslake.

Andriola, who compiled a 16-22 record while guiding the Rams, said he plans to handle defensive coordinator duties for the Chargers. D-C gave up an area-worst 40.1 points per game last season.

"We're going to play good defense, that's for sure," Andriola said. "We're going to be very physical, we're going to play good defense and have good special teams. That's how you win championships. I believe that with my heart."

In addition to his coaching duties Andriola will also work as a physical education instructor in District 300. He replaces former D-C coach Mike Davis, who compiled a 12-51 record in seven seasons.

A resident of West Dundee, Andriola emerged from a group of seven finalists.

"It was especially important to the school to have a local person who knows the kids and knows the community," D-C athletics director Dick Storm said. "It's going to be a change, but it's a change we needed to make here. (Andriola) is used to winning, and that's what we needed, someone with that attitude."

Added D-C principal Lynn McCarthy in a statement: "Our goal is to bring winning football back to Dundee-Crown and coach Andriola is the most qualified candidate for this position. He has experience working within some of the finest football programs in the suburbs, he has been a head coach and he brings with him a winning attitude."

There is some reason for optimism at D-C despite the team's recent track record. The 2010 season saw the Chargers finish 7-2 on the freshman level and 5-3-1 on the sophomore level.

Nonetheless, Andriola understands the program needs an entirely new culture if it hopes to compete with FVC powerhouses such as Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South.

"We're obviously going to have to turn around attitudes in the school and tell the kids what our expectations are," Andriola said. "It's really important that we get everyone on the same page with what we're trying to do, both in the classroom and on the field."

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