Coach Brian Badke recently announced that the Fall 2021 season will be his tenth and final as the Head Coach of the Brother Rice football program. In the past three years, Chicago Catholic Blue Division Brother Rice has been a high school football powerhouse, finishing as state Finalist and state Semi-Finalist in IHSA playoffs, along with a 4-2 record and “Top 10” state ranking during this recent, abbreviated pandemic season.
“I’m extremely proud of our football program and the young men I have had the pleasure to coach and mentor. We have a special group of players coming back, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to coach them this coming season,” Badke said. “That said, I have spent more than half of my life coaching football, and it is in the best interest of my family and business career that this upcoming season will be my last.”
Brother Rice Athletic Director Jim Prunty expressed his gratitude to Badke for his guidance and leadership: “Coach Badke’s legacy is firmly entrenched in the Brother Rice football program, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to create the best experience possible for our student-athletes and the Brother Rice community.”
Badke also showed his appreciation as he announced the bittersweet news. “I have been blessed with a very supportive wife, children, family, coaches, and friends. Without their love and support, I would never have been able to do this job for as long as I have. I was fortunate to grow up and play for some great coaches and mentors over the years like my father, George Badke; Coach Tom Mitchell; Coach Gordie Gilliespie; and Coach Mike Feminis. It was, and continues to be, my goal to provide the young men at Brother Rice the same life lessons that I received.”
