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Men's Football

 630-617-3146
 lester@elmhurst.edu

Tim Lester
Head Coach

Tim Lester begins the 2009 season in his second year as head football coach at Elmhurst College.

Lester made an immediate impact on the Bluejays in his first season as head coach, guiding Elmhurst to a 7-3 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the CCIW.

Originally from Wheaton, Lester attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School and was a member of the state title team in 1992. He quarterbacked the Tigers to back-to-back conference titles in 1993 and 1994 before becoming one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history.

A 2000 graduate of Western Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Lester rewrote the school's record book. He finished his career as Western Michigan's all-time leading passer and set 17 school records. Lester wrapped up his career ranked fifth in NCAA history in passing yards (11,299) and seventh in touchdown passes (89). He finished with more passing yards than Peyton Manning (11,201) and more touchdown passes than Ben Roethlisberger (84) and Eli Manning (81).

Lester played professionally for the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League, the Memphis Xplorers of the Arena Football League 2, and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL.

Lester began his collegiate coaching career at Elmhurst in 2002 and spent two seasons as the Bluejays' offensive coordinator. Lester’s offensive units broke 11 school records and the 2003 squad averaged over 395 yards and over 30 points per game.

After his two-year coaching stint with the Bluejays, Lester served as the head coach of Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) during the 2004 season. He led the Division II program to a 7-4 finish, its second-best record ever, and earned Coach of the Year honors from the Independent Football Alliance. With Lester's guidance, the Pumas turned in a five-game improvement from the previous season and broke seven school records.

Lester returned to Western Michigan where he served as the quarterbacks coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Under Lester's direction, quarterback Tim Hiller earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors while throwing 20 touchdowns in just seven games played.

Lester spent the 2007 season as the defensive coordinator for CCIW-rival North Central College. The Cardinals' defense finished the season ranked 18th in the nation in rushing defense (88.1 yards per game), 12th in interceptions (21), 17th in turnovers gained (33), and 18th in sacks (3.33 per game).

Before he reached the college coaching ranks, Lester spent two seasons coaching at the high school level. He served as the offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School and at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

Lester resides in Naperville with his wife, Dawn, and sons, Quinn and Cooper.

 630-617-3264
 adamj@elmhurst.edu

Joe Adam
Assistant Coach: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Joe Adam enters his third season with the Bluejay football staff and begins his second season as the team's defensive coordinator. Adam, who spent 2007 as a part-time assistant coach working with the running backs at Elmhurst, will also work with the Bluejays' linebackers and serve as the team's recruiting coordinator.

Adam spent three seasons coaching at Grand Valley State University where he was a part of two NCAA Division II Championships. While at Grand Valley State, Adam served one year under Brian Kelly, now head coach at the University of Cincinnati and two seasons under Chuck Martin. Adam was a part of Grand Valley's national championship teams in 2003 and 2005.

Prior to joining the Bluejays' coaching staff in 2007, Adam spent a year at Western Michigan University as a graduate assistant under the tutelage of Scott Shafer, the current defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan. Adam helped Western Michigan to a 7-4 record and their first bowl game in 20 years.

Adam began his coaching career at Harper Community College where he served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. During his five years at Harper, the squad made appearances in four junior college bowl games.

Adam and his wife, Lisa, reside in Chicago with their children, Matt and Jessica.

 630-617-3382
 dericksonk@elmhurst.edu

Kyle Derickson
Assistant Coach: Wide Receivers

Kyle Derickson begins his second season with the Bluejay football team in 2009. Derickson will work with the team's wide receivers.

Derickson spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Barrington High School, working with the defensive backs and serving as the team's defensive coordinator. Derickson also coached at Ben Davis High School in Indiana.

A 2003 graduate of Butler University, Derickson served as team captain during the 2002 season and earned first-team allconference honors during the 2001 season.

Derickson played his high school ball at Barrington, earning all-state honors and leading the team to the state finals during the 1998 season.

Derickson and his wife, Heather, reside in Elmhurst with their son, Dylan.

 (630) 617-3346
 grayb@elmhurst.edu

Ben Gray
Assistant Coach: Special Teams/Defensive Line

Ben Gray returns for his fourth year on the Bluejays’ coaching staff after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Gray will work with the defensive line and serve as the special teams coordinator in 2009. He also previously coached the linebackers at Elmhurst.

A 2003 graduate of UW-River Falls, Gray played cornerback and linebacker from 1998-2001. He served as team captain and earned all-conference honors during the 2001 season.

Gray also serves as an assistant track and field coach at Elmhurst College.

Gray and his wife, Meredith, reside in Elmhurst.

 630-617-3383
 sandersc@elmhurst.edu

Cory Sanders
Assistant Coach: Defensive Backs

Cory Sanders is entering his second season with the Bluejays' coaching staff after spending the 2007 season as an assistant coach at North Central College. Sanders will work with the Bluejays' cornerbacks 

Sanders earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph's College in Indiana, where he served as a student assistant coach before heading to North Central.

Sanders was a four-time all-conference selection at Saint Joseph's and served as the team's captain for three seasons. He was named the team's defensive MVP during the 2005 season when the squad ranked 13th in the nation.

Sanders currently resides in Elmhurst.

 630-617-3368
 tynerr@elmhurst.edu

Ron Tyner
Assistant Coach: Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends

Ron Tyner enters his first year as a full-time assistant coach with the Bluejays after spending last season as a part-time assistant coach with Elmhurst.

Tyner previously worked as the director of football operations and the offensive line coach for the Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League. He also served as the assistant offensive line coach for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League during the 2007 season.

A 2008 graduate of Olivet College, Tyner was a three-year starter for the Comets. Prior to transferring to Olivet, Tyner spent two seasons at Saint Joseph's College where he earned second-team all-conference honors during the 2004 season.

 630-617-3149
 bbrennan@elmhurst.edu

Barry Brennan
Athletic Recruiter

Barry Brennan is entering his eighth season as a football recruiter. Brennan returned to his Alma Mater prior to the 2002 season after spending 33 years teaching and coaching, including 18 seasons as the head basketball coach at Wheaton Warrenville South High School (formerly Wheaton Central High School).

Brennan and his wife, Carole, have three children, Joe, Kacey, and Colleen. They also have a granddaughter, Carson, and a grandson, Tate.

John Gilligan
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Running Backs

John Gilligan enters his first year on the Elmhurst coaching staff as the running backs coach.

Although new to Elmhurst, Gilligan is a veteran of the CCIW football conference. He has spent the past seven years coaching at North Central College. In his tenure at North Central, Gilligan was part of a coaching staff that collected three CCIW Football Championships and made four NCAA playoff appearances.

Prior to coaching in the CCIW, Gilligan taught and coached at several high schools located in Oklahoma.

Gilligan received his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University. He also holds an MBA from Benedictine University, and a Master in Human Resources from Roosevelt University.

Gilligan lives in Glen Ellyn, along with his wife, Kathy and son Brendan. The Gilligans also have two grown children, Katie and Michael.

 630-617-3367
 

John Lizak
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Offensive Line

John Lizak, a 1995 graduate of North Central College, returns for his ninth season as the Bluejays' offensive line coach.

Lizak's offensive line was named to D3football.com's national team of the week in 2004 for their efforts versus Benedictine University in which Elmhurst scored 60 points and generated 561 total yards of offense in the game. His line also contributed to the success of Eric Luna who left as Elmhurst’s career leader in rushing 3,561 yards. Lizak's line led the CCIW in least amount of sacks given up in both 2005 and 2007.

Lizak has developed four CCIW all-conference selections and one Don Hansen Football Gazette honorable mention All-American, Andrew Cook. In 2007, Lizak was published in an instructional video on pass protection.

Before coming to Elmhurst, Lizak spent five seasons as the head coach at Chicago's St. Bartholomew School. Prior to that position, he was an assistant coach at Holy Cross High School in River Grove. He has also been involved with Parish Youth Football Programs.

A former offensive lineman himself, Lizak was a college letterman for all four of his years with the Cardinals, earning all-conference honors as a senior.

Lizak lives in Chicago with his wife, Katie, and their son, Eddie, and daughters, Emma and Grace.

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Jake Parrillo
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Kickers/Punters

Jake Parrillo is entering his first season with the Bluejay coaching staff serving as the kickers and punters coach.

Parrillo has formerly worked with the kickers and punters at Lincoln-Way Central High School, Lincoln-Way East High School, and Andrew High School.

An all-state kicker at Lincoln-Way High School, Parrillo was a punter on the University of Illinois football team.

Parrillo earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 2000 and also holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Parrillo currently serves as the Midwest manager for global communications and public affairs at Google. He and his wife, Natalie, reside in Elmhurst.

Chris Puleo
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Defensive Line

Justin Teliga
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Tight Ends

After completing a stellar career for the Bluejays in 2003, Justin Teliga returns for his sixth season as an assistant coach working with the tight ends. Teliga has also coached the wide receivers and tackles at Elmhurst.

In his four years at Elmhurst, Teliga caught 77 passes for 770 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a dangerous receiving threat for the Bluejays in 2003 when he finished second on the team with 39 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns, earning second-team all-CCIW honors in the process.

DeQwan Young
Part-Time Assistant Football Coach: Safeties

Entering his first season with the Elmhurst coaching staff, DeQwan Young is serving as an assistant coach working with the safeties.

Last season, Young served as an assistant coach at Seton Hill University in Greensboro, Penn.

Young played under coach Lester at St. Joseph's College where he was a four-time all-conference selection at defensive back. He earned All-America honors in both 2006 and 2007. He played in 44 games for the Pumas and ranks fourth all-time in school history with 15 career interceptions. He also amassed 196 tackles, and 57 pass break-ups. Young also holds the third-highest single-season record for kickoff return yardage with 592 return yards during his senior year.

Young was selected to play in the 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl, the Division II All-Star game. Young led the East All-Stars to the championship with a 42-13 victory.

Terence Young
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Wide Receivers

After completing a stellar career at Elmhurst in 2006, Terence Young joins the Bluejay coaching staff as an assistant wide receivers coach.

A four-year letterwinner for the Bluejays, Young earned second-team all-conference honors in 2006 and closed out his career as Elmhurst's all-time leader in receptions (148) and receiving yardage (2,107).

Young is currently employed by Meyers Movers Inc.

Mike LaFleur
Student Coach: Quarterbacks

Mike LaFleur begins his first season with the Bluejays as a student coach working with the quarterbacks. After playing in 13 games at quarterback for the Bluejays, LaFleur finished his playing career in 2008 by becoming the Bluejays' starting free safety. He totaled 28 tackles and an interception. In his two seasons as a QB, LaFleur completed 149 passes for 1,592 yards and nine touchdowns.

Dan Sabock
Student Coach: Cornerbacks

Dan Sabock joins the Bluejays as a student coach after injuries derailed his playing career last season. As a sophomore, Sabock served as reserve defensive back, recording nine tackles. He also served as one of the Bluejays' kickoff returners, returning six kicks for 144 yards.