Warren's Mohapp Bears Coach of the Week
Dave Mohapp of Warren Township High School in Gurnee has been named the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week for Week 1.
Mohapp's Blue Devils roared back from a 21-0 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat host Lyons Township in three overtimes by a final score of 42-35 on Saturday, Aug. 31. Warren scored on all three of its fourth quarter possessions, tying the game at 21 with 1:30 to play in regulation. This game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, and Warren had battled traffic for three hours before finally reaching LaGrange a half-hour prior to kickoff, only to have the game postponed until Saturday due to storms in the area. Mohapp is in his 17th season as head coach of the Blue Devils.
Coach Mohapp will be invited to the Bears vs. Packers game on Sunday, Dec. 29, and will be recognized during an on-field ceremony. He will also receive a framed certificate and attend a Bears practice and “chalk-talk” at Halas Hall with his fellow 2013 Coach of the Week honorees.
The Chicago Bears Coach of the Week program is in its 18th season. The program honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players' football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline and teamwork abilities. Other criteria considered include unique coaching methodology, school and community support, volunteerism and, most importantly, contributions to players' long-term success on and off the field.
The program will run for nine weeks from Sept. 2 through Oct. 28. Deserving high school coaches are nominated by a panel of local prep authorities and the winning Coach of the Week is selected each week. The Chicago Bears will make a $1,500 contribution to the football program at each winning coach's school.
Since the program's inception, the Bears have donated over $220,000 to Illinois high schools in support of their football programs.
In addition to the Coach of the Week winners being honored at the Bears vs. Packers game on Dec. 29, all eight IHSA football state champion teams will be recognized at this game. The Chicago Bears, in partnership with the Illinois High School Association and the Illinois Army National Guard, will invite representatives from each team to the game, and a special recognition of their state titles will take place during halftime.