North Cook News

John Holecek, a former NFL standout and legendary Illinois high school football coach, has been named the defensive coordinator for Seamen Milan in Italy’s IFL2 league. Best known in Illinois for his 17-year tenure at Loyola Academy, where he led the team to three state championships, Holecek now embarks on a new chapter in his career, bringing his expertise to European football for the 2025 season, which runs from January through June.

“We're thrilled to announce that former NFL star and highly experienced coach John Holecek is the new defensive coordinator for Seamen Milan for the 2025 season in IFL2!” Seaman Milano wrote in a Dec. 10 Facebook post.

Holecek’s football career spans decades, beginning with an eight-year stint in the NFL, where he played for the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, and Atlanta Falcons. Over the course of his professional career, he notched more than 300 tackles, establishing himself as a tenacious linebacker. 

John Holecek (center, front), Kevin Hardy (left, top), Simeon Rice (right, top) and Dana Howard (center, top) | Provided photo

Holecek played at the University of Illinois from 1991-94 as part of arguably the best group of linebackers in college football history. Teammates Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice were first-round NFL draft picks, and Dana Howard played in the NFL and also won the Butkus Award in 1994, for the nation's top linebacker.

After retiring from the NFL, Holecek transitioned into coaching, leading Loyola Academy in Illinois for 17 years. Under his guidance, Loyola earned three Illinois Class 8A state championships and compiled an impressive 185-36 record. He was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and was a finalist for national Coach of the Year in 2015.

This isn’t Holecek’s first foray into Italian football. He previously coached at the American Bowl Camp in Italy in 2016 and 2023, experiences that deepened his appreciation for the sport’s global reach and his connection to emerging talent.

While he will spend the first half of 2025 in Milan, Holecek says that he plans to return to his home in the Chicago area for the summer and fall.