Local News

Grant welcomes former Dundee-Crown football coach

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H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Dundee Crown head coach Vito Andriola directs his players before begining a blocking drill during practice Tuesday, August 14, 2012.

By BILL PEMSTEIN

FOX LAKE – Dundee-Crown High School's loss is Grant High School's gain. On Thursday, head football coach Vito Andriola told his players at Dundee-Crown that he was leaving the Chargers' program. Andriola had taken over a program at Dundee-Crown that hadn't won a game in two years. Last fall, the Chargers not only won a game, but went to the playoffs.

On March 20, at a school board meeting, the Grant Community Board of Education approved the hiring of Vito Andriola as its new head football coach.

Grant athletics director Dick Knar, who also was one of the area's most respected basketball coaches (Mundelein High School), is glad to have this coach at his high school.

"We are extremely excited to have Vito join our staff,'' Knar said. "He had a great passion for not only football but the development of our student-athletes here at Grant Community High School."

Andriola's name will ring a bell in Lake County. That's because he directed the Grayslake Central program for five seasons. That was another underperforming program that Andriola resurrected and guided to a rare playoff appearance.

Grant principal Jeremy Schmidt also echoed Knar's comments.

"Coach Andriola is stepping into a program that has seen a good deal of success over its history, Schmidt said. "And I believe he will do an excellent job leading our program into its next chapter. He is dedicated, intelligent and has excellent vision for our student-athletes."

Andriola has put in his time in the football coach profession. He assisted head coach Mike Noll during some strong seasons at Woodstock High School. In fact, he was there for 14 seasons. He took over the Rams program at Grayslake and actually lost to Noll's team in Woodstock in the 2003 playoffs.

In 2005, he followed Noll to Glenbrook South and became the defensive coordinator. He stayed with Noll's Titans' team for six seasons before taking the helm of the Chargers of Dundee-Crown.

Andriola takes over the reins of the Bulldogs program from Kurt Rous who stepped down after nine seasons.

"His vision for continued success of our program is what impressed us the most,'' Knar said. "We want to play a significant role in the state of Illinois as a football program and I believe Vito is the man to do it."

Andriola is a defensive-minded head coach. He demands much of his players, and they seem to respond to that, Schmidt said.

"He is dedicated, intelligent and has an excellent vision for our student-athletes,'' Schmidt said. "I look forward to the opportunities he will provide for our students, our building and our community."