Eagles Coach Dave Wierzal Brings Experience to the Game

When Dave Wierzal says he "grew up on the sideline," he's not exaggerating by much.

Wierzal is the son of longtime football coach Dennis Wierzal, who guided Reavis High School to an Illinois state championship in 1982.

It's no wonder, then, that Dave Wierzal has "been around the game since as soon as I could walk," as he puts it.

And Wierzal is putting his years of experience to good use as Sandburg High School's head football coach. He's in his fourth year as the Eagles' varsity head coach, and he has led the team into the playoffs the last two seasons. Overall, he's been coaching at Sandburg for 22 years, including 15 years as a track and field coach.

Last season Wierzal led the Eagles to a 7-4 record and to the second round of the playoffs, where Glenbard North put an end to their season.

He makes it clear the goal for this season's team is to win a state championship.

"We feel like we can be a playoff team at the highest level," he says with quiet confidence.

Wierzal describes himself as somewhat laid-back, but that certainly wouldn't describe the kind of football he wants his team to play.

"Traditional hard-nosed, running the football," he says.

But don't expect the Eagles to be strictly a running team. Wierzal says he wants the Eagles to be well-balanced.

 "As much as I say we like to run the ball, we're trying to keep our offense as balanced as possible," he says. "On defense, we want to be moving. Our philosophy is: 'Bend, don't break.' We don't want to give up big plays. We know we're not very big, but we're hoping to make up for it with our speed."

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