The way Mike Feminis sees it, he has the best of both worlds.
The Plainfield resident is one of the most successful football coaches in the country, with a national championship under his belt and three top-four finishes in the nation in the past five years.
But since it has occurred at the NAIA level at St. Xavier University, his celebrity status is a bit narrow. And he said that’s the way he likes it.
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“My name is not Saban,” he said, referring to one of the most recognizable coached in the nation — Alabama coach Nick Saban. “People know who you are. They read the newspapers, too. Those who follow small college football certainly know who we are. But I like the idea of being able to have a normal life and be a normal guy the vast majority of the time. Those Division I guys don’t get that opportunity. They are always in the spotlight. That’s certainly something I don’t need.”
Feminis has an impressive resume.
He became SXU’s head coach in 1999 and the Cougars have gone 144-50 and he’s been named national coach of the year three times. Before that, the Cougars won eight games in the six-year history of the program.
Bigger schools have not come calling.
“I’ve never sent a resume anywhere,” he said. “I’m happy exactly where I’m at. That’s a lifestyle that I don’t have any desire to be a part of. I love the small college level. It’s like a family here. It’s an extension of my home.”
Feminis, who has lived in Plainfield the past 12 years, has a huge game coming up on Saturday. His team, which is ranked 4th in the nation in the preseason polls, hosts No. 1 Marian University out of Indianapolis. He is not putting much stock in the ratings
“The rankings are more for the fans than anything,” Feminis said. “The preseason rating is based on what you did before. But Marian is deserving of its No. 1 ranking. We’ll see if we’re deserving of our No. 4 ranking.”
Cougars assistant coaches Werner Emmrich and John Casson also live in Plainfield and the roster has a few area standouts: Jackson Shanklin, a sophomore defensive back from Plainfield who attended Joliet Catholic Academy, Omar Salazar, a freshman linebacker from Plainfield East, and James Jacobson, a freshman offensive lineman from Bolingbrook.
Also Mike Ivlow, whose father John is the head coach of Bolingbrook High School, is back after leading the Cougars in rushing yards (519) as a freshman in 2014.
Vorva is a freelance reporter.
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