Holecek is back as Loyola’s head football coach

A three-year hiatus was long enough for John Holecek, Loyola Academy’s legendary football coach who is returning to again lead the Ramblers in the fall, the school announced on Tuesday.

Holecek led the Ramblers to state dominance over his 17 years (2006-2022), winning a school record 185 games (10.9 per season) and three state championships. He will take over for Beau Desherow, who reportedly will become the program’s general manager.

“This program has always meant a great deal to me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to step back into this role,” Holecek said in the school’s release. “Working alongside Beau (Desherow) and our staff, we’re focused on continuing to raise the standard and creating an environment where our students can grow, compete, and thrive.”

The leadership change, which was first reported by WGN’s Mike Lowe, includes Desherow staying on the varsity staff as an assistant coach while assuming a the role of program general manager, a new position for Loyola Academy.

The release called the change “the next chapter” for Loyola football leadership and said that Holecek and Desherow “will build upon Loyola’s tradition of excellence while guiding the program forward.”

“It has been a privilege to lead this program over the past three years,” said Desherow, who won 30 games and two state titles in his three seasons as Ramblers head coach. “I’m grateful to continue serving Loyola in this new role and to work alongside John and our staff.

“We have a strong foundation in place, and I’m excited about what we can continue to build together for our players and for the entire Loyola community.”

After a 17-season, hall-of-fame stint as the Ramblers head coach, Holecek stepped down after the team won an IHSA Class 8A championship in 2022. He spent the last three years with Loyola’s varsity staff under Desherow.

Holecek, of Glenview, averaged 11 wins per season in his 17 seasons (2007-2022) as Ramblers head coach, winning nine Chicago Catholic League crowns and advancing to seven state championship games with three state titles (2015, 2018, 2022).

Prior to Loyola, Holecek was a star linebacker at Marion Catholic High School in the south suburbs and then the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign before an eight-year career in the NFL.

After his professional football career, Holecek returned to Illinois and was an assistant football coach at St. Ignatius on the South Side in the early 2000s. He then came to Loyola, and in his first season with the Ramblers, they posted a 5-4 record — the most losses Loyola would record in the regular season under Holecek.

Holecek is the winningest football coach in Loyola Academy’s history, and his 185 wins are more than 50 on top of the next peer: fellow legend John Hoerster (133-57 from 1987-2002). He coached in 70 playoff games and seven championship games in his 17 seasons.

Desherow is a Loyola football alumnus and coached with the program from 2004-2019 and then again the past three years.

The school’s release says that as GM of the football program, Desherow will help oversee all facets of the program and support continued growth across all levels,” while also serving as assistant athletic director and director of Loyola summer camps.

“Beau has been an outstanding leader of this program and a steady presence for our students,” said Genevieve Atwood, Loyola’s athletic director, in the release. “His ability to build relationships, develop talent, and lead with integrity has been central to our recent success, and his expanded role will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the program.”

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