Champs: Chicago’s professional sports teams aren’t the only ones making coaching news, at least not in Lake County, where four people who have made a difference in girls sports were honored recently.
Deerfield Park District’s girls basketball coach Steve Nardini, Grayslake Community High School girls basketball and softball coach John Gendron, Gurnee Park District girls softball coach Craig Smith and Waukegan High School girls soccer coach Molly Schaefer were recognized at the 2nd annual Team Up With Girls, a fair held in February by the Girl Scouts’ Illinois Crossroads Council and the Lake County Health Department and other health organizations to highlight girls’ athletic opportunities and health issues.
Typical of plaudits was that from Deerfield’s athletics, fitness and safety supervisor Lea Anne Randell, speaking of Nardini: “Steve’s energy and love for the sport are contagious. He inspires them to be their best by showing them how good they can be.”