Gaspari joins staff at AU
Aurora University head football coach Rick Ponx announced Tuesday that Mike Gaspari will join the coaching staff for the Spartan football program.
Gaspari will serve as the quarterbacks coach for the Spartans. He comes to AU with a vast coaching experience of 38 years at the high school level, including head coach at Batavia High School for 27 years and three seasons as the offensive coordinator.
He was part of 18 IHSA playoff teams, the 2013 IHSA 6A state champions, 2006 IHSA 6A state runner-up, nine conference championships and coached eight All-State quarterbacks. Additionally he served in an administrative role at Batavia since 1987 when he became the assistant athletic director and was then named the athletic director in 1991.
"Opportunities to add a quality person like Mike Gapsari to your staff do not happen every day. Mike and his family embody the personal qualities we expect from our players and our program," said Ponx. "Being around Mike on a daily basis will make us a better staff and AU a better institution. From a football perspective, I view this as a win-win situation. We will offer Mike a new challenge in his football career, and he infuses 38 years of football knowledge and insight into our program. Aurora football just got better."
"Any success I have had as an educator is due solely to the outstanding young people I have had the good fortune to work with over the past 38 years," said Gaspari. "I have also been blessed to work with many outstanding professionals who are among the best teachers and coaches in Illinois. Further, I am very humbled to have been invited to become a part of the Aurora University football staff. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Rick Ponx, his outstanding young staff, and the student athletes in the football program."
As a student-athlete, Gaspari was a standout at Rockford Boylan, earning all-conference honors in football and baseball. He moved on to Rock Valley Community College where he became a NJCAA All-American in football and then was a two-year starter at wide receiver at North Central College.