What happens when a sports-obsessed journalism major steps into a classroom for the first time? For Mr. Jake Litman, the answer is simple: you embrace it. Mount Carmel’s newest member of the faculty may be new to teaching, but he brings energy, ambition, and a clear sense of purpose to the school. Though it is his first year in education, his path to MC has been anything but ordinary.
“I have never taught in my life,” says Mr. Litman. “I wouldn’t consider myself a teacher; I am more of a substitute teacher. There is a difference. But this is the first time I’ve ever taught in my life.”
Despite that honesty, Mr. Litman has quickly become a recognizable presence in the building.
His journey began far from Chicago. “I was born in Los Angeles, California,” he says. “I lived there till I was five, then I moved cross-country to Wisconsin.”
He eventually attended college at Winona State University in Minnesota, graduating in 2022. While there, his major was never in doubt.
“I have loved sports for as long as I can remember,” he says. “So even in high school, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go talk about sports, write about sports, whatever it was, and I knew I’d learn how to write to do that, so that’s what journalism was, and I never had a second thought about it.”
He earned a major in Communication Studies: Journalism and a minor in Film Studies.
In college, he immersed himself in the student-run radio station. “I was the sports director,” says Mr. Litman. “That involved me doing play-by-play for football, basketball, and some softball games as well.”
His passion carried over to his first job after graduation, hosting a three-hour radio show in Winona in which he discussed Minnesota sports. He was the sports director of the show and wrote and published articles for his website.
So, how does a journalism major with broadcasting dreams end up at MC?
“I knew Mr. Henry, so that helps,” Mr. Litman explains. “But you guys are really good at football, I was like, alright, I can get behind that.”
His first day on staff was January 5. “I found out a month or two before from Mr. Henry. He said they needed some help, and I had no teaching experience, but I’m great with kids. I’ve been a coach all my life, and it worked out.”
Although he does not currently coach at MC, his interest remains strong. “I would love to get involved with coaching. I’d love to be an assistant.”
After only a short time at MC, he has already formed a strong opinion about the student body.
“A very confident bunch. I’ll say that.”
Mr. Litman moved to Chicago less than a year ago, just this past August. His reasons were both professional and personal. “One, I wanted to go and be great,” he notes.” I want to achieve my dreams, and secondly, my girlfriend got into the University of Illinois-Chicago’s law school, and I’ve always loved Chicago, so I was plenty happy to move here with her.”
Chicago is the third biggest media market in the country, and the city is always looking for people to work in sports. Mr. Litman moved here to capitalize on one of those many opportunities.
While substitute teaching is his current role, his long-term career goal remains clear. “I ideally want to be working at a radio station in Chicago or a news publication,” he says. He wants to continue broadcasting, talking, or writing about sports.
MC, he says, is a “great stop in the road, and I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m having a lot of fun.”
For students who are interested in sports media, Mr. Litman has a piece of advice for them. “I would say it’s all about who you know,” he says. “You have to start networking from day one. And secondly, it’s all about reps. You gotta start doing it now, whether you’re publishing it or not.”
Mr. Jake Litman may describe himself as “more of a substitute teacher,” but his presence at MC shows something more: ambition, honesty, and passion. From Los Angeles to Wisconsin to Minnesota to Chicago, from student radio to a three-hour sports show, his path always pointed to one goal: taking and writing about sports.
But for now, MC students get a front row seat to someone chasing his dream. And if Mr. Litman’s words are any indication, he’s just getting started.
