Tarka takes reins for Hinsdale Central football team

Updated: August 23, 2011 8:23PM

Rich Tarka, an assistant coach last season, is the new head coach for Hinsdale Central’s football team.

Tarka is a new mathematics teacher at Hinsdale Central after previously teaching at Rich South. The veteran coach is making his third stop as a head coach after previously coaching at Crete-Monee and Rich South. Last season, he commuted after school from Rich South to coach wide receivers under former Red Devils coach Mike DiMatteo.

DiMatteo stepped down after Hinsdale Central lost its final game of the regular season to Proviso West, breaking a streak of 10 consecutive trips to the playoffs. DiMatteo is the new quarterbacks coach at Glenbard West, and the West Suburban Silver rivals will meet in Glen Ellyn on Sept. 17.

“The transition has been going well,” Tarka said. “We have a lot of new energy. It has brought a great attitude to the program.”

The new-look Devils (4-5 in 2010, 2-5 conference) open the season at St. Charles North (4-5 last season) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Tarka has retained offensive coordinator Jamie Pass, and strength and conditioning coordinator Nick Gebhart from last year’s coaching staff. A few notable new additions this season are former Hinsdale Central baseball coach Tom Dorrance (defensive assistant), who coached at Hinsdale South last year, and former Red Devils star Alex Perkowski has joined the staff as a receivers coach.

Tarka and the Red Devils will use a 5-2 defensive alignment, with some 3-4 and 4-4 looks.

One of the team’s top defensive players is junior linebacker Andrew Pyle (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), who returns for his second season. A few of the other top defensive returnees are senior linebacker Mike Fikaris, junior safety Matt Lindsey, junior safety Jack Adams and junior tackle Peter Nelson.

“I think the linebackers look solid,” Tarka said. “We look young on the defensive line, but they’ll develop. They show a lot of aggressiveness. We have a quick defense. They can fly to the ball.”

In his first season, Tarka is relying on production from his junior class, which finished 7-2 last season.

The team’s top NCAA Divison I prospect is senior lineman Ryan Callen (6-5, 271), who’ss already received offers from MAC schools, but has yet to make a verbal commitment.

Another lock on the offensive line is senior center Michael Pircon (6-0, 252), but he rest of the line is in flux heading into the opener.

There are three running back candidates — Teddy Kwasigroch, Pyle and Adams — in the mix. Kwasigroch, a 6-0, 200-pound junior transferred from Fenwick before his sophomore year, but was sent back to the sophomore team last season after starting out on varsity.

One of the team’s potential two-way players is senior Ryan Kelleher at cornerback and wide receiver.

The battle to succeed graduated Alex Hodakowski at quarterback is coming down to the final week of the preseason. The candidates feature completely different styles, with Danny Callahan (6-0, 181) being a left-handed senior, and Brian Owens (6-2, 168) a right-handed junior and a projected starting guard on the basketball team.

Tarka has not eliminated the possibility of using both quarterbacks to engineer the Devils’ spread offense.

“Brian is taller and sees the field better,” Tarka said. “Danny knows the offense as well as the coaches. Both are good runners. Danny might be quicker. Honestly, I anticipated both competing for the job. They have both done well.”

The Red Devils’ punter and placekicker is senior Alex Georgelos.

Hinsdale Central

Aug. 26 St. Charles N. 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 2 LEYDEN 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 9 PROVISO W. 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 Glenbard W. 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 LYONS noon

Sept. 30 Hinsdale S. 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 Oak Park-RF7:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 DOWNERS N. 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 21 York 7:30 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Outlook: League favorite Glenbard West opens with a nonconference game at Wheaton Warrenville South at 11 a.m. Aug. 28 on ESPN2. York and Lyons are the top challengers.

Top five players Ht. Wt. Yr.

OL Ryan Callen, Hinsdale Central 6-4 270 Sr.

OL Johnny Caspers, Glenbard West 6-3 270 Sr.

RB Jaime Jones, Lyons 6-1 180 Sr.

OL Calvin King, Proviso West 6-4 330 Sr.

DL Tommy Schutt, Glenbard West 6-3 290 Sr.

Quote: “Everyone had to reapply for their jobs. We’ve done things the last few years no one has ever done. I was confident I would be brought back.” — Proviso West coach Famous Hulbert on major layoffs in the district.

Did you know? New Glenbard West QB Justice Odom and Lyons assistant coach Jon Beutjer, a former WW South QB, are cousins.

Predicted finish: Glenbard West, York, Lyons, Proviso West, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove North, Oak Park-River Forest.

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