This tiny college is a coaching cradle for high school football around central Illinois

8.29.2022

Influenced by their time spent in the Illinois College football program, a number of alumni have gone on to be successful coaches within the region.

This tiny college is a coaching cradle for high school football around central Illinois - Illinois College Football

A story about Illinois College football alumni was featured in the State Journal-Register on Aug. 26, 2022.

Ryan Mahan of the State Journal-Register writes, "Football is known for successful coaches producing coaching trees — think the late San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh. But there is a cradle of coaches across central Illinois with roots back to one place: Illinois College." IC has produced numerous successful high school coaches and assistant coaches in the region. Mark Grounds ’91, John Allison ’02, Patrick Bowman ’02, Derek Leonard ’03, Jon Hebb ’07 and Ryan Gardner ’15 are featured.

To read the full story, visit sj-r.com.

About Illinois College

Illinois College has believed in the power of opportunity for nearly 200 years. Today, more than 1,000 students come to our vibrant campus in Jacksonville, Illinois, to find their people, their passions, and their path forward. Whether exploring over 80 academic programs, competing in athletics, or interning worldwide, IC students live fully and Graduate READY to make a difference in the world. That’s why Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society, chose Illinois College as one of only a few schools in the state.

Visit www.ic.edu for more information.

Media Contact Information
Emily Titsworth '19, Writer
Office of Marketing and Communication
217.245.3219 | emily.titsworth@ic.edu

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