Written by Jeff Vova
correspondent
The area's high school athletic world is dotted with several new coaches.
One of the most notable hires was the Rice brothers bringing in Al Perez as their football coach.
Perez led Chicago Public League powerhouse Washington to the Class 2A state championship in 2013, fourth place in 2015, and third place in 2021. His teams have won 11 regional titles and six regional awards.
“I am very happy to join the Rice brothers' family,” Perez said in a press release. “I am honored to be a part of this community and look forward to being a catalyst for great things for our football program.”
Former Back of the Yards head coach Seamus Murphy started the program before spending the past five seasons as head coach at Eisenhower and took an assistant coaching position at Sandburg football. Murphy, a Sandburg graduate, will coach the Eagles' tight ends and serve as chair of the Orland Park school's physical education, health and driver education department.
Mr. Stagg was responsible for hiring Allie Hernandez as the women's basketball coach and Daniel LaTorre as the competitive dance coach.
Hernandez played high school basketball at Providence and college baseball at St. Francis University in Joliet.
Latorre returns to the competitive dance team and previously led the Chargers to an eighth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament, the best in program history.