Jacobs football ‘excited, ready’ for return to normalcy, winning under head coach Brian Zimmerman

ALGONQUIN – Jacobs’ Dylann Martinez was thrilled to learn that Brian Zimmerman was returning as the Golden Eagles head football coach for the fall season.

“He put in all his heart,” said Martinez, entering his third year on varsity. “He looked like he wanted to be back on this field, and I’m happy he got to be the head coach. He’s the one who truly cares. Every time he talks to us, he’s really passionate. I knew what he could bring to the table.”

Zimmerman, who was on the staff of Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach Bill Mitz for six seasons, took over as interim coach after Mitz resigned about a month before the COVID-19-abbreviated, six-week spring season was set to start.

Mitz, who is No. 20 on the IHSA career wins list, going 253-141 over 38 seasons at Stevenson and Jacobs, led the Eagles to the playoffs in seven of 11 years and has the most wins in Jacobs history (63).

Before coaching at Jacobs, Zimmerman was on staff with Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar, who has three state titles.

Under Zimmerman, the Eagles went 2-2, losing their first two games to Huntley and Hampshire and beating Dundee-Crown and Burlington Central. Jacobs did not play its last two games because of a COVID-19 quarantine within the program.

It was the third season in a row that ended in disappointment for Jacobs, which finished 3-6 in both 2018 and 2019.

“It’s been a crappy two years, and we’re just ready to get back to some normalcy,” Zimmerman said from practice Thursday morning. “Getting thrown into that interim job was an eye-opener. There is a lot more to it. It’s not just Xs and Os. You’ve got helmet decals and all that other stuff you don’t think about.

“I learned a lot from [Mitz] on how to run a program, and a lot from [Zvonar] from Lincoln-Way East, which is a state power. We’ve got good guys on the staff who are willing to learn. We’re excited and ready.”

Jacobs linebacker-fullback Paulie Rudolph said practices have been easy-going but also focused. Zimmerman plans to add music at some point “to get the kids hyped and energized.”

“It was more old-school then, now it’s more modern,” Rudolph said. “I like the way he coaches. He’s positive and up-lifting. He interacts with us and has a lot of fun.”

Tight end Grant Stec, who will be a sophomore, said he and others connected with Zimmerman right away.

“Freshman year, right when I got here, coach Zimmerman gave me his number and we were talking,” Stec said. “He was the one who brought me in and showed me everything, just taught me the ways of Jacobs football. He just fit in right away.”

Martinez said the team has been in a good place since the end of spring.

“Everything is really smooth,” Martinez said. “We’re talking a lot; the most communication we’ve had since I’ve been here, the most team chemistry. That’s what clicking. That’s what’s gonna help us win games.”

Zimmerman has quickly noticed how close and connected the team is, too. Jacobs graduated only nine and returns 14 starters.

“Typically, that doesn’t happen,” Zimmerman said of the small graduating class and large returning core. “It’s been one of the most close tight-knit teams we’ve had. You can tell there’s not a lot of cliques or anything like that. I just think we have a really nice group of young kids.”

Ben Ludlum, who led the area with 549 rushing yards and had back-to-back four touchdown games before Jacobs’ season was cut short in the spring, and Nasir Canty, both returning seniors, will lead the Eagles’ backfield. Max Benner will start at quarterback after Sam Deligio transferred to Huntley.

Teams only have 20 contact days this summer instead of 25, giving Zimmerman fewer days to install anything new.

“We’ve got a new defense we’ll be running,” Zimmerman said. “And our offense will be very similar to what we’ve run [in the past]. We can go smash mouth or we can spread it out. When you’ve got guys who are 6-foot-7, 6-foot-5, you’ve got to find ways to use them.”

Martinez, who has played mostly line at Jacobs and will be a senior in the fall, said he is ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m liking the energy out here with the team. Everyone is really excited,” Martinez said. “We have a lot of business to prove this year. This is our season to take over. We’re going to play faster football. Everyone in the Fox Valley [Conference] doesn’t know what’s coming.”