Your Diocese

JOLIET, IL — At the last game of the Hilltoppers’ regular football season, Coach Dan Sharp was awarded more than another win to add to a lengthy list of athletic accolades. The Illinois High School Association named Sharp Football Coach of the Year Oct. 15, the same day that he grabbed his 100th win for JCA.

In the midst of preparing for his ninth playoff series at Joliet Catholic Academy, Sharp took time to share with the Catholic Explorer how he measures the mark of success. While chalking up win after win is an achievement to be proud of, Sharp said his satisfaction comes long after the boys in brown leave the hallowed halls of JCA.

“I think success comes when (the boys) mature—when you see players 10 years down the road; when they’re out of college and married with their own children; when you see what kind of men they’ve become,” said Sharp, whose coaching experience spans more than 25 years.

From college football coach for the University of St. Francis to the leader of teams for public and parochial high schools, this JCA alum said his job encompasses a philosophy that encourages spirituality and moralit along with intellectual, emotional, physical and social elements. “It’s the same philosophy of the whole school,” Sharp said.

With roots that stretch into the heart of JCA, Sharp said the Carmelite and Franciscan heritage shapes his approach to coaching. The role of faith helps prepare the student body for life, he said. “I think being able to share the Eucharist with my team before each game is special. … The retreat program helps kids get a good understanding of faith in God.”

Clad in his signature brown jacket, the symbol of JCA athletics, Sharp sat behind a desk surrounded by trophies—some as tall as 3 feet—alongside plaques and memorable game balls. “In high school, the kids are younger, so a coach wears a lot of hats. Being a coach puts you in a position of power. You can’t abuse that power. You have to be a father figure; you have to have discipline; you have to be someone they can talk to.”

Sharp, the father of 15-year-old Dan, who plays on JCA’s junior varsity football team, said he believes that kids in today’s generation need sports and extracurricular activities to teach them how to interact. The home computer is an isolating experience. “They don’t talk and interact as much as we used to. They need to learn how to be sensitive to people,” he said.

The coach was honored at JCA’s Memorial Stadium by administration, faculty, parents, staff and students. His name is expected to be submitted by the IHSA to the National Federation of High Schools, making him eligible for further honors at the sectional and national level, according to Suzanne Kairis, spokesperson for JCA.