Football

Team Information

Equipment Hand Out and Practice Schedule

**Athletes that do not have equipment will communicate with their head coach to set up a time to be fitted.

Monday, Aug. 12, 2024

• Varsity: Practice -- 6 - 7 a.m. @ Stadium  /  3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Stadium
• Junior Varsity: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Grass Game Field 3
• Freshmen: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Game Grass Field 4

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024

• Varsity: Practice -- 6 - 7 a.m. @ Stadium  /  3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Stadium
• Junior Varsity: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Grass Game Field 3
• Freshmen: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Game Grass Field 4

Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024

• Varsity: Practice -- 6 - 7 a.m. @ Stadium  /  3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Stadium
• Junior Varsity: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Grass Game Field 3
• Freshmen: Practice -- 3:45 - 6:45 p.m. @ Game Field 4

After Aug. 14

• Varsity typically practices after school until 5:45/6 pm in the stadium on weekdays and in the mornings on Saturdays
• JV typically practices after school until 5:45/6 pm on Game Field 3 on weekdays and in the mornings on Saturdays
• Freshmen typically practice after school until 5:45/6 pm on Game Field 4 on weekdays and in the mornings on Saturdays

Football Helmet Order Information

Stevenson High School is committed to providing its football program with helmets that have been reconditioned and re-certified every year. Every football player will be issued a Stevenson football helmet upon their arrival into the program free of charge. If for some reason, a family wishes to purchase their own football helmet, there are two options available from Riddell: the Speedflex and AXIOM. To order, download and complete one of the order forms below:

• Speedflex Order Form
• Riddell AXIOM Order Form
• Hold Harmless Agreement

Frequently Asked Questions about Football Helmet Orders

Why is the football helmet cost different for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors?
The cost of the helmet includes the cost of replacement parts and the cost to recondition and re-certify the helmet after every season.

What if my child's helmet is rejected during the reconditioning and re-certification process?
Stevenson High School will notify you if your helmet is not returned after the reconditioning and recertification process. At this time, it will be your responsibility to replace it or your child can wear a Stevenson-issued helmet.

How will I know that my child has the same helmet for four years?
Every football helmet will have a barcode. We will scan the helmets and assign one to each Stevenson football student-athlete upon checkout and check-in.

Who can fit my child for a helmet?
Only appropriately trained personnel, such as athletic trainers and the coaching staff, should fit athletes for helmets.

Why does the football helmet need to stay at Stevenson between seasons?
Even when parents purchase helmets, the helmets become the property of District 125 in order to ensure compliance with the highest standards for maintenance and performance. This would allow Stevenson High School to track the condition of each helmet each year to eliminate helmets that do not meet NOCSAE standards.

What if my child does not return the following season?
You may request to have the football helmet returned to you within 30 days of the withdrawal/completion of the program. This request must be made in writing to the Equipment Manager Barri Woolston (bwoolston@d125.org). You will not receive any money back, even if your child does not complete four years in the program. Note: The football helmet cannot be introduced to the program again.

History

Team Championships

IHSA State Finals
2002 (2nd), 2014 (1st)

IHSA Semifinals
1996, 2002, 2013, 2014

IHSA State Quarterfinals
1996, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

IHSA Playoffs
1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024

North Suburban Conference
1976, 1977, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024

North Suburban Conference Lake Division
2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
 

Season Summaries

Coaching Records

Records

Offensive Records

Defensive Records

Patriots in the Pros

PLAYERS

Matt O'Dwyer 
New York Jets, 1995-98, Cincinnati Bengals, 1999-2003, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004, Green Bay Packers, 2005
O'Dwyer was the 33rd pick overall in the 1995 NFL draft (second round) by the New York Jets, and went on to play 10 seasons in the league. He played in 122 games during his career at the offensive guard position, starting 105. He played in all 16 games in five seasons, including four straight from 1996-99. He was a mainstay for a Jets team that went 1-15 in his rookie season, to 12-4 and AFC East champions two years later. At Northwestern University, O'Dwyer was a four-year letterman who earned first-team all-Big Ten honors at offensive guard in 1994.

Brad Cieslak
Buffalo Bills, 2005-07, Cleveland Browns, 2008
A standout quarterback at Stevenson, Cieslak was converted to tight end at Northern Illinois University. He played 12 games in four NFL seasons. In 2006, he played in seven games with Buffalo, catching six passes. At Northern Illinois University, Cieslak was one of the top pass-catching tight ends in school history. During his senior season in 2004, Cieslak caught 31 passes for 384 yards and three  touchdowns, and earned first-team all-Mid-American Conference honors as the Huskies went 9-3 and won the Silicon Valley Bowl.

Drew Mormino
Miami Dolphins, 2007
The second Stevenson graduate to be drafted by Bill Parcells (Matt O'Dwyer was the first), Mormino was taken in the sixth round (No. 199 overall) of the 2007 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, he was injured before the start of his rookie season, and was released in 2008 after spending his first year on injured reserve. At Central Michigan University, Mormino (pictured at left) started 52 games at center from 2003-06. He earned second-team all-Mid American Conference honors in 2006, when the Chippewas won the MAC title and finished 10-4.

Brad Saar
Indianapolis Colts, 1987
The 1981 graduate played in one NFL game, playing linebacker for the Colts during the strike season of 1987. In college, he was an outstanding linebacker for Ball State University, leading the team in tackles in 1984 and 1985. Saar is one of the leading tacklers in Cardinals history, making 304 stops in two seasons. His 169 tackles in 1985 is the sixth-best in school history (109 were unassisted, the fourth highest total at Ball State). Saar was named the team MVP in 1985, and also was a second-team all-Mid American Conference selection.

COACHES

Rex Ryan 
Head coach, Buffalo Bills, 2015-16, New York Jets, 2009-14; assistant coach/defensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens, 1998-2009; linebackers/defensive line coach, Arizona Cardinals, 1994-95
Ryan, a 1981 Stevenson graduate, served two seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills after six years with the New York Jets. He guided the Jets to the playoffs in his first season, reaching the AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis after earning a wild card berth. Prior to joining New York, Ryan spent 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, the last four as defensive coordinator. During his 10 years in Baltimore, the Ravens defense was never worse than sixth in the NFL. Ryan was named 2006 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association. He also was an assistant on the Ravens squad that won Super Bowl XXXV in 2000. Ryan entered professional football as an assistant coach for his father, Buddy, who was head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. After leaving the Cardinals' staff in 1995, Ryan returned to the college coaching ranks. He spent two years as defensive coordinator at Cincinnati (1996-97), and had the nation's 13th-ranked defense in the second season. In 1998, Ryan moved to the University of Oklahoma as defensive coordinator, and guided the Sooners to sixth in defense nationally. Prior to entering pro football, Ryan had coaching stops at Morehead State (1990-93), New Mexico Highlands (1989) and Eastern Kentucky (1987-88). He played at Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Rob Ryan
Assistant head coach/defense, Buffalo Bills, 2016; defensive coordinator, New Orleans Saints, 2013-15; Dallas Cowboys, 2011-12; Cleveland Browns, 2009-10; Oakland Raiders, 2004-08; linebackers coach, New England Patriots, 2000-03; defensive backs coach, Arizona Cardinals, 1994-95
Rex's twin brother has 13 seasons of NFL coaching experience, and earned two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots (Super Bowl XXXVI and XXXVIII) while tutoring the likes of Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest. In Oakland, Ryan had the No. 3 total defense in the NFL during the 2006 season. Ryan entered the NFL coaching ranks in the same year as his brother, serving as defensive backs coach on the league's third-ranked defense that season. After leaving Arizona, Rob Ryan spent a year as defensive coordinator at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, then served in the same capacity for Oklahoma State from 1997-99. He was named Coordinator of the Year by The Sporting News in 1997. After finishing his playing days at Southwestern Oklahoma State, Ryan began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky in 1987 and at Ohio State in 1988. He then spent five seasons at Tennessee State (1989-93).

Ryan Slowik
Defensive assistant/defensive backs coach, 2013-, Arizona Cardinals, defensive quality control coach, Arizona Cardinals, 2009-13; assistant coach, Denver Broncos, 2005-2008
Ryan Slowik, the son of longtime NFL assistant Bob Slowik, entered the pro coaching ranks after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. In Denver, he spent two seasons working with the Broncos' defensive backs, served as a special teams assistant in 2007, then was assistant defensive backs coach in 2008. In Arizona, Slowik served as defensive quality control coach from 2009 until his elevation to defensive assistant/defensive backs coach in 2013. Slowik is a 1998 Stevenson graduate.

PATRIOTS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The following players continued their careers at the collegiate level. Players with an asterisk played in the National Football League.

Air Force
Bob Giannini
Albany
Nick Dillon
Army
Curtis Zervic
Augustana
Kevin Allibone
Ball State
Brad Saar *
Baylor
Kelley Battles
Beloit
Joe Goldufsky
Bethel
Jon Ebert, Doug Lindberg, Eric Swan
Boston College
Mike Morrissey
Brown
Matt Groot
Butler
Jordan Caselberry, Sam Farber, William Van Lopik, Tim Vestuto
Carleton
Nathan Tobler
Carroll
Kevin Foley, Howard Thut
Carthage
Kyle Corcoran, Josh Kilker, Max Klatt, Joe Marth, Tom McGovern, Orlando Morin, Eric Schmidt
Catawba
Dodd Wolfe
Central Michigan
Drew Mormino *
Chicago
Nischay Vallabhaneni
Columbia
Jason Vravick
Cornell University
Steven Hajas, Sam Marks
Dayton
Tyler Vincent
DePauw
Paul Cartwright, Al Fitch, Matt Moodhe
Drake
Mike Bilton, Sean Coughlin, Fred Drew, Cade Gilbert, Ben Morrison, Kevin Murtha, Mitch Rasmussen, Ryan Rusin, Stan Sliwinski, Todd Wozniewski
Eastern Illinois
Ivan Gleyzer
Eastern Michigan
Jake Hurcombe
Elmhurst
Brad Smeele, Kevin Thomas
Elon
Barrett Frain
Evansville
Matt Junia, Jon Puffer
Florida International 
Anthony Guli
Grand Valley State
Jim Hardy
Hanover
Andy Gigante
Hobart
Preston Earl
Illinois
Lamont Holden, James Marchese, Michael Marchese, Chris Rucks
Illinois State
Matt Blitz
Illinois Wesleyan
Tom Van Anrooy
Indiana
Bruce Bufe, Brian Finney, Chris Holder, Ed Warm (manager)
Iowa
Cliff King, Henry Marchese, Kent Owsley, Mark Weisman
Lake Forest
Tony Giuli
Maryland
Joe Marchese
Miami (Florida)
Mike Rodbro
Miami (Ohio)
Geoff Matthews, Mark Robich, Jack Sorenson
Michigan
Marc Ramirez
Michigan State
Matt Morrissey
Millikin
Pat Van Lopik
Minnesota
Ryan Keller
Navy
Cleveland Tyson
Nebraska
Mark Glover (manager)
North Central
Peter Bulandr, Shane Walsh
North Park
Milah Vukovich
Northern Illinois
Brad Cieslak *, Rasche Hill, Shea Newcomb, Mike Scarmella, Jake Wertz
Northern Michigan
Craig Hansen, Kevin Pearson
Northwestern
Cameron Green, Faraji Leary, Matt Micucci, Matt O'Dwyer *, Alex Rucks
Notre Dame
Mark Murphy
Ohio
Byron Cross, Todd Tabachka
Ohio State
Logan Gaskey
Pennsylvania
Matt Norton, Brion Wood
Pittsburgh
Alex Capstick
Princeton
Kyle Brandt, Chris Robertshaw, Gus Steger, Eric West
Purdue
Aidan O’Connell
Robert Morris (Chicago)
Jaffar Mascoll
St. John
Dean Bielawa
St. Norbert
Tony Giannini
St. Thomas
Michael D’Angelo, Jon Kull
San Diego
Pat De Blase
South Dakota
Kevin Earl
Southern Illinois
Chris Blum, Joel Dant, Raymond “Chucky” Sullivan
Trinity International
Steve Downs, Bill Weals
Valparaiso
Aaron Boz, Steve Clancy, Taylor Deloye, Dave Deutsch, Liam O'Connell, Chad Schmitt
Virginia Tech
Jeremy Webb
Wabash
Nick Grujanac
Washington (St. Louis)
Rob Liszka, John Maskalunas, Danny Nowak, Cole Okmin, Jon Way
Washington and Lee
Paul Corliss
Western Michigan
Ben Samson, Zach Novoselsky
Wheaton
Patrick O’Connell
Wisconsin-La Crosse
Chris Larson
Wisconsin-Madison
Mike Maskalulnas, Maema Njongmeta, Carl Miller, Steve Salata
Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Roger Redmond
Wisconsin-Platteville
Alec Martin
Wisconsin-Stout
Rob Betterman, Mike Lettecci, Andy Previn, Jamie Walsh
Yale
Carl Johnson
Youngstown State
Ryan Slowik

Head Coach Bio

Brent Becker

6th Season
bbecker@d125.org

Brent Becker was named head coach in February 2019. He has served on the Patriots’ coaching staff since 2012.

Becker has 26 years of high school and college coaching experience, including four as head coach at Lake Forest College. During his seven seasons on the Patriot coaching staff, Stevenson has compiled a 84-41 record, winning the Illinois High School Class 8A state championship in 2014. SHS has reached the IHSA state playoffs in each of his seven seasons as an assistant, and has captured four North Suburban Conference championships.

At Stevenson, Becker coached running backs his first year, then served as offensive line coach and special teams coordinator from 2013-16. Becker moved to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 2017, and in the fall of 2018 served as assistant head coach and offensive line coach.

Prior to joining the Stevenson staff, Becker served as defensive coordinator at New Trier High School for three seasons (2009-11). The Trevians held opponents to 15.3 points per game during his tenure, which included state playoff appearances each year.

Becker’s first 11 years in coaching came at the collegiate level. After graduating from Knox College in 1998, he remained in Galesburg and coached linebackers for his alma mater for one season. Becker moved on to Greenville College (now Greenville University) for two seasons as linebackers coach and defensive special teams coordinator. The Panthers were co-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions in 1999, and played in the National Christian College Athletic Association Victory Bowl in 2000.

Becker moved up to the NCAA Division II level the next two seasons, coaching defensive ends at Saginaw Valley State University in 2001 and 2002. The Cardinals went 20-5 in his two seasons, reaching the Division II playoffs each year. Saginaw finished the 2001 season ranked sixth in the country.

Becker returned to Illinois and NCAA Division III in 2003, joining Lake Forest College as its defensive coordinator. In each of his two years leading the defense, the Foresters allowed the fewest points among Midwest Conference teams, and had the conference’s defensive player of the year.

Becker was promoted to head coach at Lake Forest College in 2005. The Foresters went 17-23 in his four seasons, including a 3-1 mark against his alma mater, Knox College. Lake Forest produced 46 all-conference and 32 academic all-conference players during his tenure. Becker retained defensive coordinator duties his first year, then moved to special teams coordinator in 2006 before taking over as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach his last two seasons. In 2007, Lake Forest averaged 25.5 points per game on offense, which at the time was the third-highest in school history. Also, Becker implemented an academic program that produced the program‘s six highest team grade-point averages in consecutive semesters.

As a player, Becker was a four-time letter-winner at outside linebacker for Knox College from 1994-98. He also earned three letters on the men’s track and field team.

Becker is a 1994 graduate of Princeton High School in Princeton, Ill. The PHS football team reached the second round of the IHSA Class 3A state playoffs his senior season.

Brent Becker Coaching Career as Assistant, Head Coach

* denotes head coach