At Mundelein High School, sports hold a prestigious place among the activities that students engage in, serving not only as a means of physical fitness but also as a vital component of the school culture. The excitement surrounding athletic events fosters a sense of community and school spirit, drawing students, parents, and faculty together in support of their teams.
While it’s well-known that many students participate in athletics, teachers play just as large of a role. They strive to provide quality education to their students during the day and then shift gears to motivate and guide their athletes in the evenings and on weekends.
Two coaches who are recognized for their contributions both in the classroom and on the field are math teacher John Cowhey, who coaches varsity football, and Karen Stitcher, media center instructional assistant, who is the assistant coach of girls cross country.
Cowhey spent four years playing high school football at Bumberg South High School and has served as an assistant coach here for the past six years. His dedication to football is unwavering, yet it is his passion for his team that forges an even deeper connection among them.
Cowhey shared, “The acronym FAMILY stands for ‘forget about me, I love you’. We try to instill a family mindset and lots of people talk about that in their programs.” While love can unite a team, Cowhey admitted it requires more than just that to achieve success in a “long, grueling season with a lot of bumps and bruises.”
Cowhey continues to strengthen his team in the off-season by requiring his players to “utilize our training program, utilize our strength program, and get … into strength PE class so they can not only continue to build muscle but become better athletes but also [play] multiple sports.”
Each year, there is an expectation for 60 players to meet certain standards, which not only motivates Cowhey but also encourages these athletes to put in their best effort both during the season and in the off-season.
Cowhey stated, “We spend a lot of time focusing this year on training our players about leadership and culture. And so I think every year I’ve been here, our culture has been improving.”
Stitcher was an all-state athlete in high school and went on to compete in Division I cross country at Wake Forest University. She embraces the idea that everyone has their own path to follow.
For her, it’s not about being the top achiever. She shared, “I take everybody from where they are, encourage them, have expectations, and get them to improve. And I also look at everybody’s goals.”
In cross country, teamwork during practices is essential, as it demands full effort to reach personal goals when race day arrives. Instead of imposing her own ideas on how to improve their performance, Stitcher encourages each runner to find their own path to success.
Teamwork isn’t always limited to just practice sessions; it extends to those moments when runners give their all, pushing their bodies to the brink of exhaustion. Stitcher emphasizes the importance of that collaborative spirit during these intense times. “I like everyone to be connected. Together. And everyone to be supportive. And ideally, that is successful, and makes a team.”
Although Stitcher serves as an assistant coach and isn’t responsible for creating the team’s plans, she certainly has valuable advice to share with the runners. She stated, “No matter how hard you work in the fall, you’re not going to catch up to the people that ran all summer.”