OLCHS Taps Harold Blackmon As New Head Football Coach

OAK LAWN, IL -- When Oak Lawn Community High School went on a search for a new head football coach, success, experience and character topped the list of requirements. In finding new head coach Harold Blackmon, the school not only checked those boxes, they hired a coach dedicated to building character in his players, emphasizing success in the classroom and strengthening enthusiasm within the community.

And the Spartans are very excited with the prospects for the future.

“We’re very excited to bring Coach Blackmon into the Spartan family,” OLCHS athletic director Jeremey Cryan said in a news release. “He’s an experienced coach who focuses on building character, strong academics, and pride within the community. While his football pedigree speaks for itself, his vision for the Spartan football program was exactly what we were looking for in a coach. It’s an exciting time for Spartan football.”

Blackmon has quite the resume under his belt. He served as the head football coach from 2012 to 2018 at St. Laurence High School in Burbank. During his tenure, Blackmon led the Vikings to back-to-back trips to the Illinois High School Association Class 5A State Semifinals in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, he took his team to the Class 6A State Quarterfinals. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Northwestern University, Leo High School and North Park University. In addition, he played defensive back for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks from 2001-2003, and prior to that he played at Northwestern.

As impressive as that is, what set Blackmon apart from other candidates was the potential he sees for the OLCHS football program and his common goals with the school’s vision. Blackmon said when he sat down with Cryan and principal Dr. Jeana Lietz and heard their vision, he was hooked. In addition to coaching duties, Blackmon will serve in the classroom as a substitute teacher.

“Coach [Nick] Novak has done a great job getting this program headed in the right direction,” Blackmon said. “I am trying to do my best to pick up where he left off and continue to move this program toward success both on and off the field … To have the ability to work with an outstanding group of people who have similar priorities as me is a relief. I am looking forward to leading this program and doing my part to ensure that OLCHS is indeed the choice school in the Oak Lawn community.”