Longtime Coach Don Engels Remembered for Lasting Impact

Until the end of time, Don Engels will be the answer to a trivia question.

But the impact he made as the first person to throw a touchdown pass on national television is dwarfed by the lasting impact he has made on the lives of hundreds over the last four-plus decades in the village of Glenview.

Engels, who died April 15, was a multi-sport athlete, played both football and basketball at the University of Illinois and spent some time on the field in the NFL. During the 1952 Rose Bowl for the Illini, he came into the game in the third quarter to throw the first touchdown pass aired on national television.

READ MORE HERE: Glenview Man Who Threw First Nationally Televised Touchdown Pass Has Died

But tributes have been pouring in to obituaries posted on him with no mention of any of that. Engles’ lasting impact is that of coaching youth in football, basketball and baseball.

“In the 1970s and 1980s, pretty much any boy who played any sport was coached by my Dad in something,” said Matt Engels, Donald’s son. “A lot of former players have told me my Dad had quite an impact on their lives.”

Greg “G-Man” Dellinger was one of them. In a remembrance posted on Engles’ Legacy obituary, Dellinger recalls how Engels taught him “all about” basketball and football before age 12 and followed up his commitment later in life.

“When I left for college, Mr. Engels took us out for dinner, and then hugged me good-bye. In 1993, when I got married to Michelle, right before I left for the church, the phone rings. It’s Mr. Engels calling from Europe to wish me well, and to tell me how happy and proud he was. At every turn in my life, the “Big Man” was there for me,” he remembers.

“Glenview just lost another incredible man,” Jeff Cozad added. “Coach Engels was one of the finest coaches I ever had and he was just an amazing overall mentor both on and off the field. I wish every young boy had a Coach Engels in their life because he was truly one of my key role models as I watched him balance family, work, friends and community service.”

Dellinger, now a leader with 20 years of experience in marketing serving global organizations, thanked Engels for helping change his life for the better.

“Because of Mr. Engels, the complete trajectory of my life changed. If he knew you, he believed in you, & he told me so, in thousands of different ways. From taking me to my first Bulls game, to allowing me to go with him and Johnny to see Mike play football out at Princeton. Thank you to the Engels boys for allowing me to visit your Dad that final time. It meant everything to me. If you are reading this, then you know that this is a great loss. Yet, Mr. Engels is now in Heaven with Mrs. Eng. He is coaching the team, and she is grabbing the film from the top of the station wagon, parked right there on the sidelines.”