Lemont HS Athletic Director Earns Division's 'Athletic Director of the Year' Honors

Lemont High School Director of Athletics & Activities John Young has been tabbed as the 2014-15 Illinois Athletic Directors Association Class 3A/4A “Athletic Director of the Year” for the IADA’s Division 3. One of seven Class 3A/4A division winners, Young now is a finalist to be the 2014-15 Class 3A/4A IADA Athletic Director of the Year, which will be awarded at the IADA’s annual conference in May 2015.

Lemont’s athletic program has flourished under Young’s direction. Of Lemont’s 24 sports, 19 have advanced to IHSA State Finals competition since Young took over the school’s athletic department in 2000. During his tenure, the school’s cheerleading program has won four IHSA State Championships, and the boys’ baseball program won the IHSA State Championship in 2014—the school’s first-ever team state title in a boys’ sport. The wrestling program has boasted individual state medalists Angel Cabral ‘10 (2009, 2010) and Matt Leibforth ‘10 (2010).

Several other Lemont programs have seen unprecedented success in recent years. The football program has reached the state title game three times (2007, 2008, 2014), and the wrestling (2010, 2011) boys’ golf (2011), girls’ bowling (2004) and girls’ soccer (2009, 2011, 2013) squads all have brought home trophies from team state finals competition since 2000. During that same timeframe, the boys’ golf, girls’ bowling, girls’ cross country, girls’ track and field and wrestling programs all have produced individual medal winners in state competition.

Lemont’s athletic program has enjoyed unparalleled success in the South Suburban Conference since its inception in 2006. Lemont has won the Presidents’ Cup - the SSC’s all-sports trophy - five times in eight years. It captured the first two Presidents’ Cup crowns in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and currently is riding a three-year streak (2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14) of Presidents’ Cup titles.

Lemont’s athletic facilities have improved significantly during Young’s tenure. He helped develop the LHS Sports Complex, which serves as home to the school’s baseball, soccer and softball programs. He also directed the renovation of the football stadium, wrestling room and locker rooms during the school’s most recent construction project.

Young guided the development of the Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame, which debuted in 2004 and recently welcomed its 10th induction class. He also facilitated the implementation of the “Young Hearts for Life” cardiac screenings program, which provided free testing for more than 1,000 students combined in 2012 and 2014.

Young has been an IADA member for 15 years. He has served on its Executive Board and chaired its Awards Committee since 2013. He also has earned Certified Athletic Administrator designation from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He served as the first President of the SSC Athletic Directors in 2006-07, and also has been a member of IHSA Advisory Committees in track and field and softball.

Prior to arriving at Lemont, Young completed stints at Prairie State College and Lewis University. He established Prairie State’s athletic department and served as the institution’s athletic director from 1993-98.

Young played football at MacMurray College, from which he received his degree in 1989. He also earned a masters degree from Governors State University in 1993. His wife, Kathy, chairs Lemont High School’s Mathematics Department. Two of their children—Josh (2012) and Lauren (2014)—are Lemont graduates, and a third—Caleb—currently is a freshman.