Sometimes, life doesn’t go the way you expect, but it can still lead you exactly where you’re meant to be. That’s what happened to Coach Adebowale “Coach O” Olaleye, a teacher, coach, and mentor who once turned a missed chance into a lifelong passion for helping students grow.
Coach O wears many hats. Besides teaching in his first year at Mount Carmel High School, he also coaches football at Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School and is getting ready to start his first season coaching track at Mount Carmel. But his story didn’t begin under stadium lights. It started in Frankfort, Illinois, where a young athlete dreamed of big things.
“I didn’t play in college the way I thought I would,” Coach O said, referring to his football career after high school. “But that setback led me into coaching, and that’s where I found my purpose.”
Growing up in Frankfort, Coach O attended Lincoln-Way East High School, where he ran track along with playing football. He still smiles when thinking about those days.
“I only lost three games my whole high school career,” he says proudly. “It was a good time, I enjoyed every moment.”
After high school, Coach O went on to study at the University of Illinois, where he earned degrees in molecular biology and bioengineering. While there, he also worked with the football team under then-head coach Lovie Smith, who was previously head coach of the Chicago Bears.
“That experience opened a lot of doors,” he says. “Being around coaches from the NFL showed me what leadership and teamwork really mean.”
At first, Coach O planned to walk on to the football team as a player, but things changed when the team’s coaching staff was replaced. Instead of giving up, he decided to take a new path.
“They were cleaning house and starting fresh,” he says. “That’s what got me into coaching, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Since then, Coach O has coached at Illinois Wesleyan, Morgan Park High School, and now Homewood-Flossmoor, where he continues to help young athletes grow. He’s also preparing for his first season as a track coach at MC. Even though the season hasn’t started yet, he already has a plan.
“As soon as my football season ends, I’ll have a full game plan ready for track,” he says. “The goal is to build something strong here.”
Teaching at MC gives him another chance to impact students every day. Whether he’s in the classroom or on the field, his focus is on helping kids reach their potential.
“Sports teach you more than how to win,” he says. “They teach you discipline, teamwork, and how to handle challenges.”
Coach O is also completing an administrative internship with Mr. Tabernacki, which will qualify him to become an assistant principal or principal one day.
“After this year, I’ll be cleared for leadership positions,” he says. “We’ll see where it goes, but I always want to stay connected to students somehow.”
Coach O’s story is about turning challenges into opportunities. From dreaming of being a college athlete to becoming a teacher, coach, and leader, he shows what it means to stay determined and keep growing.
“Every day is about helping kids become better people,” he says. “That’s what coaching is really about.”
Even when life doesn’t go as planned, Coach O proves that with hard work and heart, it is still possible to find success. And help others find theirs, too.
