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Michael DiMatteo said he wants to break the stereotype of the “typical” high school football coach.
“I think some people have a stereotype that coaches are just Xs and Os guys who teach in order to coach. But that isn’t what I am about. I am a teacher who coaches football,” said DiMatteo, now in his sixth year at Hinsdale Central teaching Advanced Placement European History and World Cultures.
He also serves as the school’s varsity head football coach.
Within the next few weeks, DiMatteo will learn if he has been selected as one of 10 Golden Apple Award recipients out of more than 500 nominees. Recently he was named one of 30 finalists.
“It’s an honor because the Golden Apple is the highest level award a teacher can receive,” said DiMatteo.
One of the toughest decisions DiMatteo may face if he wins a Golden Apple will be when to take advantage of a sabbatical that comes with the award.
“That’s a good question and presents an interesting conundrum. I probably won’t take it during football season, but it is such a great opportunity to do research and better myself as a teacher,” DiMatteo said.
He currently is working toward a second masters degree in education.
“Any time you can grow professionally, it is a good thing,” DiMatteo said.
Notable
•Taught and coached at Lake Zurich, Grays lake, East Leyden, Morton East and St. Patrick’s High Schools before coming to Hinsdale Central
• Coached Red Devils to a IHSA Class 8A football championship game in 2008
& quotable
“Hinsdale Central is the place where I always wanted to end up,” DiMatteo said. “The combination of academics and athletics, it doesn’t get any better than that. I am fortunate to be able to achieve my professional goal.”
Philosophy
Don’t try to be something that you are not because you can’t be anything other than what you are.
Favorites
COACHING MEMORY The Red Devil’s 2008 home playoff win over Mt. Carmel High School, one of the state’s premier programs
BOOKS Memoirs of Napoleon, Namath
TEACHING MENTOR Greg Cozzi, East Leyden
HISTORIC ERA 16th Century England/Tutor Court, America in the 1940s
Michael DiMatteo said he wants to break the stereotype of the “typical” high school football coach.
“I think some people have a stereotype that coaches are just Xs and Os guys who teach in order to coach. But that isn’t what I am about. I am a teacher who coaches football,” said DiMatteo, now in his sixth year at Hinsdale Central teaching Advanced Placement European History and World Cultures.
He also serves as the school’s varsity head football coach.
Within the next few weeks, DiMatteo will learn if he has been selected as one of 10 Golden Apple Award recipients out of more than 500 nominees. Recently he was named one of 30 finalists.
“It’s an honor because the Golden Apple is the highest level award a teacher can receive,” said DiMatteo.
One of the toughest decisions DiMatteo may face if he wins a Golden Apple will be when to take advantage of a sabbatical that comes with the award.
“That’s a good question and presents an interesting conundrum. I probably won’t take it during football season, but it is such a great opportunity to do research and better myself as a teacher,” DiMatteo said.
He currently is working toward a second masters degree in education.
“Any time you can grow professionally, it is a good thing,” DiMatteo said.
Notable
•Taught and coached at Lake Zurich, Grays lake, East Leyden, Morton East and St. Patrick’s High Schools before coming to Hinsdale Central
• Coached Red Devils to a IHSA Class 8A football championship game in 2008
& quotable
“Hinsdale Central is the place where I always wanted to end up,” DiMatteo said. “The combination of academics and athletics, it doesn’t get any better than that. I am fortunate to be able to achieve my professional goal.”
Philosophy
Don’t try to be something that you are not because you can’t be anything other than what you are.
Favorites
COACHING MEMORY The Red Devil’s 2008 home playoff win over Mt. Carmel High School, one of the state’s premier programs
BOOKS Memoirs of Napoleon, Namath
TEACHING MENTOR Greg Cozzi, East Leyden
HISTORIC ERA 16th Century England/Tutor Court, America in the 1940s
