Marmion Cadets

Marmion student-athletes uphold a tradition of excellence on and off the playing field. Seated, from left: Alex Rindone, Eddie Greco and John Mason. Standing, from left: Juan Avila, Andrew Larsen, Sean Fichtel, Tyler Capen, Matt Milroy, Bryce Emory and Roberto Del Toro.
(Rich Hein/Sun-Times)

From Ireland to English, Cadets rule

April 14, 2009 BY PATRICK Z. McGAVIN

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TOP SPORTS MOMENTS

Coaching start

1 Before leading Loyola to its historic 1963 NCAA basketball championship, coach George Ireland directed the Cadets’ program from 1936-51. In his first head-coaching job, the former Notre Dame All-American shaped his dazzling offensive philosophy. He had a 222-124 coaching record at the Aurora school, including a school-record 30 wins in 1946-47.

Millennium gold

2 Since taking control of the swimming program in 1994, Bill Schalz has turned the Cadets into a state power. After state runner-up finishes in 1998 and 1999, the 2000 team captured all three relays to defeat St. Charles by 49 points in winning the state meet. Andrew Schnell, Tom Lowenthall and Nicholas and Jonathan Burgess powered the attack.

Class A quarterfinalist

3 At the 1976 Class A Supersectional, Jeff Dawson scored 23 points and John Momper 17 as the Cadets routed Winnebago in the only Elite Eight appearance in school history. Marmion led Lawrenceville by 8 at halftime but star guard Jay Shidler’s 37 points carried the Indians despite Tim Fichtel’s 21 points and Momper’s 22 rebounds for Jim Newport’s 24-6 Cadets.

Gridiron power

4 In 1975, Marmion won its first state playoff game by trouncing West Suburban Catholic rival Providence 21-0. The Cadets dropped a 15-14 heartbreaker to Geneseo Darnall in the Class 3A quarterfinals. Quarterback Tim Fichtel directed the attack for James Fraser’s 9-1-1 team. He was backed by Mark DeBroeck, Creighton Bodie, Dan Ronan and Joe Deeley.

Outside force

5 A 2004 graduate, Larry English earned seven letters in football, basketball and track. English played fullback and middle linebacker. At Northern Illinois, he was shifted to defensive end and was the Mid-American Conference’s premiere defensive player. Draft analyst Mel Kiper lists English as the fifth-best outside linebacker in the April draft.

WHAT MARMION MEANS TO ME

By Brad Childress: Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress is a native of Aurora and a 1974 graduate of Marmion Academy.

I entered Marmion in the fall of 1970, though the interesting thing is that I only lived a block away from West Aurora. My dad, Harry Childress, was a friend with the Marmion basketball coach, Roger O’Neill.

I played football, basketball and ran track. I was a safety my junior year and quarterback senior year.

Marmion was a very unique place. The discipline and the religion were great things. There was a terrific esprit de corps. It was an all-boys school, and you wore your uniform every day. The school fostered great friendships, great relationships and it had a great environment. The emphasis on discipline and preparation really carried over.

I was a medium recruited athlete. I could have gone to one of the service academies. I started at Eastern Illinois and eventually I walked on at Illinois. Mike White really gave me my coaching start. At Illinois I coached the receivers and the running backs on the Rose Bowl team in 1983. That began my coaching odyssey: a year with the Indianapolis Colts, Northern Arizona and Utah. Then I was Wisconsin offensive coordinator for Barry Alvarez for seven years and offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, the year we drafted Donovan McNabb.

I had a chance to talk with 2004 Marmion graduate Larry English at the Pre-Draft Combine in Indianapolis. It was a great thrill because it’s not very often you get a chance to meet a kid from your own school getting ready to play in the NFL. He’s a kid with some very unique rush skills.

Professionally, one of my greatest satisfactions was when I was asked to speak to the cadets’ 2008 graduation class. I talked about starting from the bottom and working hard, commitment, dedication, integrity and the things that felt good to you.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Daniel Bolger: Major-general, U.S. Army.

• David Brennan: Chicago Board of Trade chairman.

• Brad Childress: Minnesota Vikings coach.

• Thomas Commes: President, Sherwin-Williams.

• Edward Garrity Jr.: Doctor, University of Chicago Hospitals.

• Eugene Harshbarger: Rear-admiral, U.S. Navy.

• Jack Hill: Aurora mayor.

• Gregory Kliebhan: V.P. of Marquette University.

• Chris Lauzen: Illinois state senator.

• Casey Mulligan: Economics professor, U. of Chicago.

• Terence Mulvihill: Former managing partner, Goldman Sachs.