'Coach O' Retires After 44 Years At Morgan Park Academy

CHICAGO - For a number of teachers over the years at Morgan Park Academy, a Pre-K through 12 school on the city's Southwest Side, the job is the only one they've come to know. The latest example comes from Susan Oczkowski, a physical education instructor and coach who is retiring this week after 44 years at the school.

"This is the first job I had out of college, and the only job I've had," said Oczkowski, known to MPA students and alums of the past four-plus decades simply as "Coach O."

An MPA Athletic Hall-of-Famer who has coached nearly all girls sports teams at the Upper and Middle School levels, Coach O leaves on her own terms and recently spoke with Patch about her time at MPA.

"I'm not getting any younger, and in this kind of job I don't want to just roll the ball out and say go play. I always want to be active and a good role model for the kids," she said, noting that her decision to retire was made just a few weeks ago after consulting with a financial planner who suggested now may be the time.

Coach O has been a backbone in the school's athletic department since 1975. First being hired to coach girls basketball and field hockey teams at the Upper School level, then moving on to decades of success coaching Middle School girls teams.

Like the undefeated softball squads of 2003, 2004 and 2005, which combined for a 31-0 record.

But Coach O's impact goes far beyond her success on the field (or court, or any other playing surface for that matter). Eli Moss, a senior basketball and soccer player, describes what he remembers most about the beloved coach.

"She means a lot to everybody here," Moss, who has been at MPA since first grade, said. "She's always been a sweetheart to us."

"I loved 'Friday freedays' in lower and middle school... Coach O would orchestrate a 'We Will Rock You' song before dodgeball games and organize memorable games of Capture the Flag. She's always been supportive at our games, giving us tips and has always been there for everybody.

"This school wouldn't be the same without her."

Lynda Pariso, the school's athletic director who has worked alongside Coach O for 40 years, says the same.

"There will never be another Coach O," Pariso said. “Sue has touched so many children’s lives and encourages each of her students to lead a healthy lifestyle.”

Other faculty members remember Coach O's innovation when it came to figuring out how to keep physical education classes active and fun while the school's gymnasium was being renovated about a decade ago.

Coach O created the "MPA Marathon," in which students would run laps around Jones Bowl (a large grassy area at the center of campus) and log miles until they reached 26.2 (the length of a marathon) by the end of the year.

Even in retirement, Morgan Park Academy will remain a special place to Coach O.

"I'm always going to remember the good things," she said. "And I plan to be back for Homecoming and other special occasions. I'm not going to run away forever."

She says it was the size of the school, it's great diversity and the freedom given to teachers that kept her at the same spot throughout the decades.

"I had no reason to look anywhere else," she said. "I will miss the smiles on the kids faces when they achieve something they have been trying to do for some time and walking across Jones Bowl and hearing kids go 'Coach O!' 'Coach O!'"

But as for her future plans, Coach O will remain active as a fitness instructor at a Northwest Indiana gym where she has been a member in recent years.

"It's the perfect part-time job for me to get out of working full-time, but not doing nothing," she said.

Coach O says traveling will also be in her future agenda.

"I'm not a huge traveler, but I never really had the time to do it before. I think I'll start with some local trips around here and then travel with my church."

"I'm in a good frame of mind," she said. "This has been a great journey, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life, whatever that may be."