Huntley to name Zimolzak new head coach

Huntley High School will name assistant football coach Matt Zimolzak its next head coach, pending approval at Thursday's District 158 Board of Education monthly meeting, according to sources.

Zimolzak, 43, spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach under former coach John Hart, who left after four seasons to take the vacant coaching job at Brownsburg (Ind.) High School. Hart led Huntley to a 28-12 record and three playoff appearances

Zimolzak spent one season at Huntley as an offensive line coach and the last three campaigns as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, his areas of expertise.

Last fall he directed a stout defense that limited opponents to an average of 14.1 points per game as Huntley (10-1, 5-0) won its first Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title. The Red Raiders lost 17-14 to Oswego in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.

According to Zimolzak's bio on the Huntley Football website, the southern California native played at Beloit College, where he was part of three Midwest Conference/North Division championship teams.

A teacher of AP Physics and calculus-based AP Physics at Fremd High School in Palatine, Zimolzak served as an assistant coach for the Vikings for 17 seasons under Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Mike Donatucci. He was part of a Fremd staff that made 16 straight playoff appearances.