Former Huntley coach John Hart to be inducted into Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Former Huntley football coach John Hart will be inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday.

Hart, who also coached at downstate schools Edwards County and Mount Carmel, took over as head coach for the Red Raiders before the 2012 season, going 28-12 in his four years there and taking them to the playoffs in three of four seasons.

In his final season (2015), Huntley went 10-1, won the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division for the first time and won a Class 8A first-round playoff game. Hart left Huntley after the 2015 season to be closer to family in Indiana, taking a head coaching and teaching position at Brownsburg High School on the northwest side of Indianapolis.

In the 10 years before Hart arrived at Huntley, the Red Raiders had only two winning seasons, including a 2-7 record in 2011. In Hart’s first season, Huntley went 6-4 and qualified for the 7A postseason.

Hart earned his 300th career victory at Brownsburg in the fall and is 307-93 in 36 seasons, including two state football championships in Indiana with Evansville Reitz (2007) and Warren Central (2009). Hart compiled a 152-56 record in 20 seasons in Illinois, including a 101-21 record in 11 seasons at Mount Carmel.

Hart will be inducted into the IHSFCA Hall of Fame on June 15 at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

The other members of the 2021 Hall of Fame class include Jeff Harres (New Berlin), Josh Jostes (Maroa-Forsyth), Brian Hassett (Streator, Prairie Central), Andy Bitto (Carmel, Antioch), Bill Modelski (Conant), Darren Peach (Mount Carmel), Dave Douglas (Joliet Catholic) and the late Jim Frankenreider (Annawan).