Every two years the Mount Carmel football program holds a grammar school coaches’ clinic  designed to deepen relationships with kids and their coaches in the Chicagoland area. The event was headlined by Mount Carmel legend Frank Lenti, who has 11 football state championships to his name, and Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald and  Lenti have been friends ever since the latter was a high school student. Over the years their relationship has grown, as both coaches meet frequently around the common denominator of their profession. Fitzgerald, because of his history with Lenti, views him as a mentor. Both agreed that they’ve used each other to better themselves as coaches.

The clinic, which featured keynote talks from both Lenti and Fitzgerald, was split into two segments, offense and defense. Every coach on the Mount Carmel football staff, from the offensive line to the defensive line,  was given 20 minutes to talk about his specific position.

Every coach at Mount Carmel agreed with the value of these sessions, and Fitzgerald that “Education is crucial for the future of our game. It is critical that we teach our young players correctly.”

Football has come under some fire recently for concussions, and some parents do not want their kids to play because of the higher risk of head injuries.  However, Fitzgerald views the publicity about head injuries in a positive light, noting that it, “can shed awareness towards head injuries.”

Fitzgerald and Phil Segroves, Mount Carmel’s head freshman football coach, both agreed that like all parents, they worry about their children’s well-being.  This clinic looks to remove that worry, as they strive to support grammar school coaches in teaching their kids correctly.

For Fitzgerald, while education is top on the list to keep kids safe in the game, he also believes you should not judge the game just based on some injury statistics. “Don’t evaluate the game before you evaluate the coach.”

The coaches’ clinic, by promoting good habits and good coaches, will help to bring these messages home to all the grammar school coaches who showed up last Wednesday.