I think just being around out guys made Dominic's take his game to another level and he also took our offense to another level. 2 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 countdown and he's rated as the No. He's a very bright kid who has a very bright future. (La Grange Park, IL), Morgan Park I cherish every year I have now, and to answer your question I definitely reflect back on those days. East St. Louis mayor Gordon Bush, among many others, urged Shannon to reconsider, but while Shannon was thinking it over, the school board hastily convened a special meeting and voted 6-0 to accept his resignation. Atthe middle school level, we offer a wide range of sports for our student-athletes at Lincoln and Mason/Clark Middle Schools: We are members of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), which services boys and girls in interscholastic athletic and non-athletic activities for elementary and junior high school level students in Illinois education. East St. Louis is 2-2 with the losses coming against powerhouse teams from Baltimore and Georgia and ranked No. We havent had a whole bunch of turnover in the coaching staff. I really didn't think we could be beat after that game. Corys always come to me about coaching and things of that sort. Stay current with our News Hub and school blog. (Du Quoin, IL), Lincoln-Way North We can see Illinois is getting an electric football player. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. To Access The Forms Click Here. An 11-year career saw him get drafted 27th overall to the Jets. Our Basketball program has won 4 state championships and has produced multiple conference titles over a span of years. (Belleville, IL), Victor J Andrew It will be a sophomore line with one junior and those guys overall will be pretty good. Especially the environment that we come from, we need someone that when our kids make a mistake that hes not just going to send him out there to the wolves. (Wide receiver) Dominic (Lovett) took his game to another level last season. Hopefully, his success continues. To Access The Forms Click Here, *Public Act 102-0051The district allows a student to modify his or her athletic uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion or his or her cultural values or modesty preferences. After a three-year stint as a scout for the Los Angeles Rams, Woodbury became an assistant special teams coach with the Rams in 2020, before transferring to Morgan State University as a Tight Ends coach and Special Teams Coordinator. New and exciting things are happening here at East Saint Louis High School and we hope to provide the best educational experiences possible while following CDC Guidelines. Thats what a lot of high school coaches want. Please logout and login again. (Marengo, IL), Adlai Stevenson Illinois recruited Jeff Thomas pretty hard when he was a prep prospect. Boys Athletic Director: Brian Schoby brian.schoby@estl189.com phone 618-646-3700, Girls Athletic Director: Darren Sunkett darrensunkett@yahoo.com phone 618-977-1144, Girls Athletic Director's Assistant: Ida Sykes idarea.sykes@estl189.com phone 618-646-3700, Asst. (Chicago, IL), Lena-Winslow What environment does Lovie and his staff have to provide Jeff in his time at Illinois? Former East St. Louis and NFL great linebacker Bryan Cox and Flyers coaching legend Bob Shannon helped celebrate the 30-year reunion of the East St. Louis Class of 1986 and the 1985 Flyers . (Harvey, IL), Oswego East The team was founded by Vince McMahons Alpha Entertainment and is an owned-and-operated member of the new XFL owned by Dwayne Johnsons Alpha Acquico. How has it impacted you as a coach? During the season I'm with my players more than I am with my family and my players are an extension of my family. At the high school level, we offer a wide range of sports for our student-athletes: East St. Louis Sr. High School Sports are spearheaded by the all-time winningest Football program in the state of Illinois, winning 7 state championships and 2 national championships in school history. (Barrington, IL), Wheaton North In my opinion, I think Corys a great hire. Last year right out of the gates you played Batavia at Batavia and in that first game your kids came out on fire (a 31-17 Flyers win). This information is updated in real-time and reflects what is in our routing program. Youre right in the middle of it, and I think its great when Illinois and Missouri are both recruiting that area well. Unified Champions Special Olympics Sports Teams, All student athletes uphold the expectations outlined in the, IHSA Concussion: Return to Play Protocol, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Illini Inquirer caught up with Sunkett to discuss Thomas, his impact and his needs at Illinois, as well as Sunkett's relationship with fourth-year Illinois coach Lovie Smith and second-year Illini assistant Cory Patterson. Tight Ends/Special Teams: Tory Woodbury - A former quarterback and wide receiver himself, Woodbury was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. We had to prepare our kids for a very physical game because that's what Batavia brings week in and week out. Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday at Lemont High School. East St. Louis defensive back Ahmad Robinson is the No. Cory, he started off in this area as a Little League football coach. While Saturdays game is anything but a must-win situation, Gettis also noted beating the Flyers would not be just an ordinary victory. Sunkett: I'vegot three of them(girls). We can not guarantee space for media that has not registered in advance. When you try to think of a weak link from last year it maybe was the offensive line. But after two seasons of highs and lows with the Hurricanes, Thomas transferred back home. Includes free meals & bus service! Lawaun Powell East St. Louis . The biggest thing out of that game is we had a heat wave that week in St. Louis, and we didn't have an opportunity to practice that week. East St. Louis Sr. High School is a proud member of the Southwestern Conference located in Southern Illinois. Sunkett: I think you said it best when you said structure.
Roster - East St. Louis Flyers (East St. Louis, IL) Varsity Football 23-24 Download our free tuition assistance index and learn how other families areaffording De Smet Jesuit. Darren Sunkett: I tell you, theyre definitely getting one of the greatest that Ive ever coached. Prior to his arrival, the Panthers went 3-6 overall and 3-4 in the SWC in 2017. In the community we live in, structure is what's most needed for our kids. (Park Ridge, IL), East St. Louis Head Coach. Lovie kinda puts you at ease. The whole Kobe thing really hit home especially now with this coronavirus. It's just scary and you always want to be there for your kids. A wildly successful career saw him be named to the second-team All-WAC twice, and that became the tip of the iceberg in terms o success for LaRoi. In six spring games with East St. Louis he caught 32 passes for 737 yards and scored . (Wheaton, IL), Peoria EDGYTIM: One of the trademarks of your football program is you aren't afraid to travel and will play anyone, anywhere. Theres also a rivalry between the two. Its going to be a physical game. We were prepared but we weren't prepared. All our kids that I have sent there have graduated. Both teams are coming off victories in Week 4 as OFallon rallied to beat Edwardsville ranked No.
No. 1 large school: Loaded East St. Louis pits itself against the Week 2 we host the annual Scholars Classic and we play 2019 6A Missouri state champions in the Desmet Spartans. Defensive Line: LaRoi Glover - A bonafide legend, Glover is perhaps the most recognizable name in the coaching ranks of the Battlehawks, if not the entire league. East St. Louis Coach Darren Sunkett didnt respond this week to requests for comments about Saturdays matchup. School District 189 is now accepting applications for programming June 5th-June 30th (Mondays-Thursdays). Right now, Im sure he wants to play Antonio on the defensive side. Hopefully, the NCAA will allow him to play right away and Illinois fans will have the opportunity to see Jeff play this year.. Without a doubt, East St. Louis is nationally-renowned program, he said. The more you look at it, personally I just don't see any way of getting it done. Working with several college programs over the years, Perles had a six-year stint in the CFL, before becoming familiar with Anthony Becht on the Chiefs from 09-12. Like I said, Terry Hawthorne graduated from there, and Kendrick Jones received a degree from there. He earned his most success as a Super Bowl Champion winning a championship with the Bucs as a Tight End Coach in 2002. Upload it. When we won that game I knew we were ready. 2020 Top Football Recruits in Illinois . OFallon has only had four coaches in its history. Senior tackle Jireh Mayes (6-2, 320) will anchor the defensive line. Supporting Phillipss offense will be a litany of offensive coaches that comprise: Offensive Coordinator: Bruce Gradkowski - A former quarterback himself, Gradkowski had a 10-year-long career in the NFL under his belt. Proehl enjoyed a long, 17-year career in the NFL before becoming a coach with the Carolina Panthers for 6 seasons. 15. Sunkett also discusses three more East St. Louis prospects receiving heavy Illini interest. With a strong playing and coaching career already underneath his belt, Proehl will be looking to further establish his coaching pedigree. We also have some nice younger receivers who will compliment those guys. We offer 50+ clubsfor students to pursue interests, build brotherhood, and develop as leaders. Adding Dominic with Keontez Lewis, who's another kid who can stretch you vertically and also horizontally and they make it tough for other teams to defend us. You are a Girl Dad and how has that changed you? This kid is phenomenal when it comes to picking up the game plan. (Bolingbrook, IL), Thornwood How much did that impact his decision to transfer to Illinois? EDGYTIM: You've been at East St. Louis for a lot of years now, and you know firsthand that high school sports in general means so much to yourcommunity. 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
The Battlehawks will be playing their home games at The Dome at Americas Center. Hes not going to be a kid who trusts right away, but once you earn his trust, hell do anything for you. It kinda just depends on the kid. Cover Photo & Photos in article by Rick Ulreich, Cover Photo & Photos in article by Paul Baillargeon, Click Logo to view action shots and team pictures from Jason Schoenig. Welcoming beginners as well as experienced performers, singers, and musicians plus tech crew and behind-the scenes support to our Fine Arts Department. 247Sports employs a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on . He has coached the state's winningest football program of all time to an impressive 166-50 record in 18 seasons including IHSA state football titles in 2008 (Class 7A), 2016 (Class 7A) and in dominant fashion last season in Class 6A.
The latest guest on my weekly 20 Minutes podcast is East St. Louis head coach and athletic director Darren Sunkett. They are also loaded every year and they will be a partof the Classic and we have our hands loaded with both of those Missouri teams. Just for Coach Smith to have a guy like that who knows the territory and get in these living rooms and get in these houses and get inside these high schools and talk to the coaches and parents who he's known for 10 or more years, its going to go well for Illinois. East St. Louis has been a dominant force in the state of Illinois for several decades, winning numerous state Championships and countless conference titles. They were all first year starters and two of them were freshmen in Miles (McVey) and Paris (Patterson) except for one kid. Its not just about athletics and, What can you do for me? We need somebody whos definitely going to take care of our kids once theyre there. It's taught me to treat every kid with respect like you treat your own kids because you might wake up one morning and never have a chance to talk to that kid ever again. Has that been by design and if so where does that come from? 1 in the latest AP Class 6A poll. Hes also a Future 50 Under Armour All-American. How would you describe your relationship with Lovie and his staff? EDGYTIM: You've had quite the run at East St. Louis over the past 18 plus years now. A career that has seen coaching experience at the high school level, Gradkowski started as a volunteer assistant quarterbacks coach at Anthony Wayne High School before taking on head coaching duties at the St. Francis de Sales School. (Saint Charles, IL), Homewood-Flossmoor Gettis, who began his OFallon career in 2011 as the defensive line coach, understands the task at hand. I've also have had two players who were very close to me pass in Damien Nash and then Jaylon (McKenzie) and it makes me cherish every minute you spent with your kids.
Learn more aboutways to give. Hes going to punish them, but hes going to punish them like a father. (Calumet City, IL), West Aurora Growing up I never had the opportunity to leave Camden. You need someone who can definitely get their minds and relate to them once they go off to school. In June 2022, Abraham joined the coaching staff of Anthony Becht with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Hes got a daughter here that hes raising. (Calumet City, IL), Evanston Township What do you see out of those programs right now because obviously you have a good relationship it seems like with both sides? I think the coaching staff, the support, the administration and the community has been a big impact, he said. D. Sunkett.
Football Coaches - Southeast Missouri State University Athletics Our kids need nurturing. Its an important game.
Athletics / Department Page - East St. Louis School District 189 Schedule a visit, join us for an event, or go on a virtual tour! He joined the Defensive Backs coaching ranks, first with Illinois, then for the Orlando Apollos. Lemont is 12-0 and seeded No. Youre talking about three great athletes who can really keep this thing going and Cory definitely has a great relationship with all three of those guys. Versatrans E-Link provides parents/guardians with secure access to their students' Bus Route Information. Snapshot of East St. Louis & Lemont. (Chicago, IL), Oswego You put all of that together, and its just a great move for Jeff all together.. Running Backs: Art Valero - Another former Ram, Valero was the running back coach in 2008-09 and led Steven Jackson to some of his more productive seasons. He said after last weeks win over Belleville East that each new week brings his Flyers an opportunity to build. Coaching Staff. (Chicago, IL), Nazareth Academy He made it through the summer and Week 1 he was ready. Our high schools, our middle schools and our grade schools are safe havens for our kids. Meet the Team. Coach John Merritt took over the Spartans in 2022 and will lead them inthe next step in this tradition. They were all first year starters and two of them were freshmen in Miles (McVey) and Paris (Patterson) except for one kid. I tell my kids all the time teams and coaches never forget losses, so we knew going in it would be a hostile environment. I'm sure some of our kids are stressed out because they are so used to that structure being there. Has that been by design and if so where does that come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Sunkett:<\/strong> I think that's a big part of what we do and it helps those young men be better prepared for the world and life. Our high schools, our middle schools and our grade schools are safe havens for our kids. CHAMPAIGN Several of East St. Louis football coach Darren Sunkett's players havegone on to play college ball at Illinois. Stay up to date with all the latest news, rumors, scores and more on the return of the XFL St. Louis franchise. East St. Louis School District 189 may have the perfect career opportunity for you! Head Coach Terrell Buckley. Full Roster. He's not the most vocal kid and just running our tempo offense I'd like to see him get into it a little bit more vocally. The interscholastic athletic and non-athletic activities participate in state competitions for grade levels in members' schools. . They might not ever get the chance to do these things in life, but at least we gave them that opportunity and experience as a student athlete. (New Lenox, IL), Thornton Fractional North Name Role; Anthony Becht: Head Coach: Anastasia Ali: Dir. Hes going to have that father-son relationship, and hes going to take care of them. They were the number one ranked team in the country last year and they are supposedly going to be the preseason number one ranked team again in the nation for 2020. A. East St. Louis Flyers football team from IL plays Lemont | Belleville (Joliet, IL), Marian Central Catholic Since his playing career came to an end in 2011, Bechts only coaching experience that surpassed the high school level was in 2019 when he was the Tight Ends coach for the San Diego Fleet in the AAF. Tyler committed to Missouri already while Dominic has multiple Power 5 offers and so does Keontez. (Peoria, IL), Phillips Academy Theyll face a huge test in Gettis fourth season on Saturday, as they host the powerful East St. Louis Flyers at 1 p.m. in a league game. School District 189 is participating in the Test to Stay program in partnership with the CDC, IDPH, and East Side Health District. A coaching career that started in 1981, Valero has coached at practically every level, from the NFL to Division One Programs and a stint in The Spring League as well. Louis Rams (1994-1995), Denver Broncos (1999) QB coach: Arizona Cardinals (2009 . Out of almost 500 applicants, Briana Morales was selected for this honor because of the positive impact she makes with vulnerable students, her dedication to personalized, competency-based education, her passion for educational research and policy development, as well as her commitment to supporting colleagues and future educators through Affinity Groups and more. Once you get that solidified I think theres more buy in., Gettis also called his current group of players special.. Taryan Martin. Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach . Ive had the opportunity to coach some great ones. Please review our eLearning, Return to Learn and ESSER III Plans. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I think coach is doing a great job in that aspect of it.. More recently, Becht was the offensive coordinator at Wiregrass Ranch High School. Illinois has done a great job with that. Wide Receivers: Ricky Proehl - A Rams legend, Proehl was part of the legendary The Greatest Show on Turf team that won a Super Bowl in 1999. Who do you want to represent? What can you tell me about 4-star 2020 DB Antonio Johnson and 3-star WR Lawaun Powell? O'Fallon and East St. Louis face off in key game in Illinois Please click the read more link to access the document. For the most part, these guys have been dialed in and have gotten better every year. You can put him inside at slot. The 23-24 East St. Louis varsity football staff roster. Onward and Beyond After School Support, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hes a young coach who can relate to these new-generation kids because these kids are a little different than what Ive been coaching over the last 20 years. A lot of people watched that documentary 89 Blocks" which followed you guys during Jeff's senior season. Hes going to be one of those guys who goes on and continues our tradition in playing in the Under Armour All-American Game. Why was it important for Jeff to get closer to home? It's like I have 55-60 sons at one time. Do you have a team photo? (Oak Lawn, IL), Plainfield North Just having thoseguys take us to the wire and having an opportunity late to win the game on fourth down, I knew we were on our way after that game aslong as we could stay injuryfree. St. Bonaventure sits on a beautiful 500-acre residential campus in western New York's Southern Tier, 70 miles south of Buffalo and 90 miles east of Erie, Pa. (Wheaton, IL), Romeoville You take those two guys, then you also got Coach Smith recruiting our quarterback Tyler Macon, whos a sophomore and one of the top sophomore quarterbacks in the country. (Saint Louis, MO), Granite City I think once Coach Smith gets that thing turned around and gets to winning ball games, it probably wont be much of a recruiting war. You've had some great teams, but where does the 2019 rank compare to some of those great East St. Louis teams you've coached in the past? <\/strong><\/p>\nSunkett:<\/strong> I tell everyone that I think top to bottom that team (2019) was my best team so far. When you try to think of a weak link from last year it maybe was the offensive line. In 2018, they were 1-8 overall and 0-7 in SWC play. The East St. Louis Senior High School Unified Champions Special Olympics Basketball Team played in the 2023 IHSA/Special Olympics Illinois Unified Basketball Tournament on Friday March 10, 2023 at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC 201 E Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL). Theyve got good players, they have a good coaching staff, and a rich history. (Lombard, IL), Kenwood Academy St. Louis Battlehawks Coaching Staff - xfl.com Be sure to review the current SHINE189 Newsletter. School District 189 offers quality enrichment programming for rising 9th graders in June. I'm sure some of our kids are stressed out because they are so used to that structure being there. Darren Sunkett: Yeah, I have a great relationship with both. (Crystal Lake, IL), Providence Catholic Was that game the tone setter for the remainder of the year?<\/strong><\/p>\nSunkett:<\/strong> That was definitely the tone setter. As everyone knows we are in an impoverished area where our crime rate is different than suburban communities. I think the relationship that Coach Smith has started building with Jeff is going to go a long way. It's a fluid situation. Get the scoop on the St. Louis Battlehawks' 2023 coaching staff- Our comprehensive list of the Battlehawks' coaching staff includes all the key details you need to know about the team's leaders . We talkedalready about the two freshmen linemen back for next season and it's just about getting themin the best shape possible and they have nothing but upside. The East St. Louis Unified Champions Basketball Team won the Second Place Title in the State Tournament! We need your help in this process. 2. (Downers Grove, IL), A B Shepard The former top-50 overall prospect in the Class of 2017 originally passed on the Illini, signing instead with Miami. So everything for us was film study all week and one or two walk thru's. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Darren Sunkett: Yeah, predicting that can be difficult. During his eight seasons at John Burroughs he held a record of 67-36 with three Metro League championships, three district championships, three final four appearances, two state . We are hoping they are abiding by the governor and staying inside and doing their school work online. Week 2 we host the annual Scholars Classic and we play 2019 6A Missouri state champions in the Desmet Spartans. He was an outstanding football player. The more you look at it, personally I just don't see any way of getting it done. alias => "chicago\/\/preps-talk\/east-st-louis-coach-darren-sunkett-reflects-18-year-career-amid-pandemic", title => "East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett reflects on 18-year career amid pandemic", article_body => "The latest guest on my weekly 20 Minutes podcast is East St. Louis head coach and athletic director Darren Sunkett. We also have some nice younger receivers who will compliment those guys. (Chicago, IL), Montini Catholic Hes a great kid. The XFL is back, and the games allocated to each team are set at 10 with each of the 8 teams playing twice against its three divisional rivals and once against the opposite division competition. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. When I talk about brick by brick, its about building a program, making more progress and kids understand playing for OFallon has an expectancy. Right nowthey have 18 guys with Power 5 offers (chuckling), so yeah that's our Week 3 game. Football Coaches - Washington University in St. Louis It keeps them in a safe environment for at least 8-10 hours a day. I think just being around out guys made Dominic's take his game to another level and he also took our offense to another level. We think it's an experience they will remember and cherish for a lifetime.<\/p>\n
EDGYTIM: You've had quite the run at East St. Louis over the past 18 plus years now. He made 32 tackles in the spring. Kids I've coached previously stay in touch with the program and they come back and we always rehash the old days. 6. He chose Alabama over Michigan State, Oregon and others. 10 in the latest AP Class 8A poll 32-31 and East St. Louis defeated Belleville East 57-0. The latest guest on my weekly 20 Minutes podcast is East St. Louis head coach and athletic director Darren Sunkett. This year I'd like Tyler to be just a little more vocal as a leader. Learn more aboutThe Spartan Fund. EDGYTIM: How important in the big picture was the Neuqua Valley win (a come from behind 50-48 win) Week 3 on the road in Naperville? I think Illinois provides a great environment for our kids to succeed academically as well as athletically.. Check here for the COVID Data Dashboard. Hes one of those kids who it just depends on which side of the ball Coach Smith wants to play him on. In 2015 he was named the National Football Foundation, St. Louis Football Coaches Association, and Missouri Football Coaches Association coach of the year in Class 3. (Rolling Meadows, IL), Joliet Catholic Academy We challenge each student at his level for optimal growth and academic achievement.