Hall-of-Fame High School Football Coach Tom Powers Dies

A Hall-of-Fame high school football coach who led several North Shore teams to successful seasons passed away last week.

Tom Powers - who coached at Loyola Academy, Notre Dame (Niles), Evanston Township High School and the now defunct St. George High School in Evanston - led his teams to eight conference championships, three Chicago Prep Bowls and the IHSA football players four times as a head and assistant coach. He died March 4 at Evanston NorthShore Hospital.

After one year of active duty service in the U.S. Navy, Virginia-born and Pennsylvania-raised Powers accepted a football scholarship at the University of San Francisco in 1949 but suffered a career-ending injury a year later, according to his obituary posted by Donnellan Family Funeral Services.

His first coaching gig was offered to him by legendary Notre Dame University head coach Frank Leahy, who invited him to serve as a varsity assistant and assistant freshman football coach for the Fighting Irish after Powers achieved a longtime goal of enrolling in classes at the prestigious Indiana university.

High school coaching career began at Notre Dame High School in Niles in 1955, and coached for more than 30 years at the four North Shore schools. During that time, he was named “Coach of the Year” three times.

From 1980-1987, he led ETHS to 50 wins and three playoff appearances.

Chris Livatino, athletic director for the Wildkits, was saddened to announce the death of Powers to the ETHS community this week.

“While I was fortunate enough to have been coached by him during summer football camp going to into my freshman year, I never got the opportunity to play for him like my oldest brother, Tom (1987), who remembers him as an iconic figure who balanced discipline with respect and trust and was a master motivator,” Livatino said. “Current Varsity Football Defensive Coordinator, Eddie Conley (1983), remembers how Coach Powers turned around the 1-8 KITS the year prior to his arrival into a 7-2 team through sheer discipline. Both recall his overwhelming goodness as a human being who cared about his players well beyond their playing days.”

From his time at the four schools - also coaching basketball and tennis at times - Powers was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Coaches’ Association “Hall of Fame,” Illinois High School Football Coaches’ Association “Hall of Fame” and Loyola Academy Athletic “Hall of Fame.”

According to his obituary, the most valued accolade he received was the “Educator of the Year” award given to him by his colleagues at Loyola in 1980.

Powers leaves behind his wife, Rosemary Powers nee Lavis; children, Timothy (Jennifer), Mary, Martha (Tracy) Parsons, Paul (Feryall), Daniel (Marie) and Michael (Lindsey) and grandchildren, Camille, Grant, and Gabrielle Parsons; Elizabeth & Thomas; and Hugh Powers. He was a fond brother of Alan J. (Lynn) and the late John (Ann).

A visitation is planned to start at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, with a funeral to follow at St. Mary’s Church, 1012 Lake Street in Evanston. A celebration of life will be from 6-9 p.m. Thursday night at Hackney’s, 1514 East Lake Ave. in Glenview.