EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Tom Marsan, Class Of 2000

Tom Marsan’s journey from Evergreen Park Community High School student to school board member spanned 20 years and a professional football career in Europe.

Marsan, a 2000 EPCHS alum and current school board member, said he was the only Mustang freshman to try out for the quarterback position in the fall of 1996. It was a decision that led to on-the-field success not only here in Evergreen Park, but in college and the pros.

“At the time, I didn’t know the impact that decision would have in guiding me to my future,” he said. “It was after that season that I decided football was going to be my focus.”

The Mustangs were coached by Brett Nelson at the time, someone Marsan credits for instilling in him a strong work ethic.

“I started going to the weight room at 6 a.m. before school to work out with teammates,” Marsan said. “We would lift weights, do speed and agility drills and then go into the gym and throw the football every morning. This continued through my senior year and is one of the biggest reasons for any success that I have had.”

Marsan remembers summer camps held at Eastern Illinois University, which “helped us grow closer as a group.”

It showed in the results column each fall.

The Mustangs went 3-6 in Marsan’s 1997 sophomore season, but improved to 8-4 in 1998 and 8-2 in 1999.

“Junior year was one of the most fun seasons I have had playing football,” Marsan said. “Our team made a playoff run to the semi-finals, we lost to Kaneland High School which at the time had 2 straight undefeated state championship seasons.”

Kaneland’s 33-game win streak came to an end in Marsan’s senior year, when the Mustangs beat them handedly en route to a conference championship.

Football wasn’t the only thing Marsan was involved in after school. A three-sport athlete also competing in basketball and baseball, Marsan was also in the peer mediation program with Mr. Schellenberger and the DARE program with the Evergreen Park Police Department.

“All of these experiences taught me leadership skills and how to work well with others,” he said.

A number of the influential teachers and coaches he learned from are still working at EPCHS, including Bruce Scaduto, Mike Gallagher, Deb Schillo and Rob Novak.

Marsan’s football career continued at Ferris State University, an NCAA Division II school in Michigan, where he was the starting quarterback for three seasons and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Small Business Management.

His professional career was overseas, including three seasons in the Swedish American Football League, and one in the Austrian American Football League.

“I had great experiences in the 4 years playing overseas,” Marsan said. “I made great friends that I am still in regular contact with today while getting the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and experience many different cultures.”

Marsan is married to another EPCHS alum, Meg Marsan, class of 2003. The two actually met out-of-state, but moved back to Evergreen Park in 2009. The couple has four children: Finley, 11; Matilda, 9; Eleanor, 6 and Liam, 4.

In addition to serving his hometown on the school board, Marsan is a general manager for a landscape and snow removal contractor.

“I really enjoy being a part of the EPCHS community as a board member,” he said. “It is great to see the faces that I know from my days as a student and being a part of the great things happening at the school today.”