When Dan DeFranza’s family moved to the Northwest Side decades ago, his dad looked around for a high school to become a fan of.
The choice was Notre Dame, a decision that set the course of DeFranza’s life.
“I’ve been coming to events at Notre Dame since I was a little boy,” DeFranza said. “It’s literally been a part of my life forever. I dreamed of going to school there.”
He did, and after spending 30 years as the Dons’ defensive coordinator, the 1990 Notre Dame graduate is the school’s new head football coach. DeFranza succeeds Mike Hennessey, who retired earlier this month after 38 seasons and 205 wins.
DeFranza was a captain on Hennessey’s best team, the 1989 club that went 11-3 and finished second in Class 5A. He went on to play football at Eastern Illinois, majoring in economics and minoring in history.
An injury during his junior season derailed DeFranza’s college career. When Hennessey heard the news, he sent DeFranza a three-page letter that lifted his spirits at a difficult time in his life.
“He told me I had a football mind and I should stay involved in the game,” DeFranza said. “My old high-school coach reaching out to me — that changed my life.”
When DeFranza got out of college, he went to work as a broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and joined Hennessey’s staff as a defensive backs coach. Two years later, he took over as defensive coordinator.
After 17 years as a broker, DeFranza changed careers to become a social studies teacher at Notre Dame. He rose to department chair and is currently the school’s assistant athletic director.
He freely admits he owes it all to Hennessey. “I never would have had that thought if it wasn’t for my high-school football coach writing a 21-year-old kid out of the blue,” DeFranza said.
DeFranza has had chances to move on from Notre Dame over the years. But the only time he seriously considered leaving was when Naperville North coach Sean Drendel, a close friend, approached him about the Huskies’ defensive coordinator job.
DeFranza stayed in Niles, though, and now he’s ready to build on the foundation Hennessey established. He’s in the process of putting together a staff and hasn’t decided yet if he’ll continue to run the defense or hire a coordinator.
The Dons finished 3-6 this season, missing the IHSA playoffs for the second straight year.
What is DeFranza’s measure of success?
“The goal of any program is to make the state playoffs,” he said. “Getting back to the playoffs consistently, have the kids go play college football. [And] how could I say a state championship isn’t a goal?”
Comings and goings
TF South has hired 1997 alum and longtime assistant Trent Jensen to succeed Bob Padjen, who retired after eight seasons. Next season will be the first time in the program’s 67-year history that a member of the Padjen family won’t be playing or coaching for the Red Wolves.
-In a surprise move, St. Laurence didn’t renew the contract of Adam Nissen, who led the Vikings to a Class 4A runner-up finish in 2023 and a quarterfinal berth this season. Nissen was 35-28 with three IHSA playoff berths and one Prep Bowl title in six seasons.
– Mike Burzawa, who won three consecutive state titles at Driscoll from 2005-07, has stepped down at Evanston after 17 years.
– St. Patrick alum Luke Mertens has resigned after three seasons as the Shamrocks’ coach.
– Other high-profile jobs that are currently open include Homewood-Flossmoor, Lane, Libertyville and Rolling Meadows.