It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?
A few weeks back, I guess you could say leading a high school football program officially became the family business. That’s when Mike Thorgesen was approved to succeed Pat Ryan at Kaneland.
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Mike Thorgesen joins younger brother Boone, who is preparing for his third season leading Geneva, as a head coach.
The sons of Joe and LeAne Thorgesen, Mike and Boone grew up with the sport. Their dad coached Kaneland for 26 seasons — from 1981 to 2006. His run included back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 1997 and 1998.
“Kaneland was a second home for us,” Mike said. “We were there all the time. Sports and school. I think we felt connected.
“We both took teaching very seriously. Why not make it a career? I think we’re both pretty happy with our decision.”
Mike, 36, is two years older than Boone and has been a part of the football coaching fraternity his entire professional life, starting with two years at McHenry and 12 at Kaneland.
Mike assisted his dad’s successor, Tom Fedderly, and was Ryan’s defensive coordinator the past five seasons.
“It’s been a fantastic experience,” Mike said. “I’ve been waiting to do this for quite a while.”
The job opened when Ryan, who lives with his family in Bartlett, took a job teaching at Bartlett, where he also will join the football staff.
Ryan told Kaneland officials he thought Mike Thorgesen was the obvious choice to replace him.
Joe Thorgesen is delighted.
“Mike is much more prepared to be a head coach than I was when I first started,” Joe said. “He has great relationships with his players, which is important, and he has a strong background in the defensive and offensive lines, which for a young coach is very important.
“Mike was a hard worker and tough player as a kid, and I think you’re gonna see the same with his football team.”
At 5-foot-9 1/2, Mike may have been undersized but started at guard and nose tackle for his dad.
Joe Thorgesen, retired from teaching, continues to coach. He has been running backs coach at Aurora University since 2018 for ex-NFL star Don Beebe, another of his former players.
“It’s year to year,” Joe Thorgesen said. “The freshmen I came in with Don’s first year are still playing, thanks to COVID. I’m waiting for them to move on. It’s been fun. Don takes care of me.”
Mike and Boone Thorgesen both have memories from ages 8 to 11 of serving as water boy and ball boy, respectively, for those two state championship teams that included a wide receiver who is another member of their dad’s coaching tree.
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“It was what we lived for, being on that sideline around the older guys and idolizing those players,” Boone said. “I tell my varsity players all the time to remember those young kids.
“All they may care about is getting a high five from one of our guys when they score a touchdown or do something.”
The experience helped prepare the brothers.
“We saw all the work that went into it,” Mike said. “I remember going with my dad on Saturday mornings to different McDonald’s to meet other coaches and exchange VHS tapes of our games with them.”
No doubt, a convenient stop for most conference foes, having one of the fast food places nearby or in between.
“Times have changed,” Mike said. “Now, we push a couple of buttons and post our game tape on Hudl.”
The brothers matched wits the past two seasons when Kaneland and Geneva went head to head, with Boone directing his team’s offense and Mike calling the Knights’ defense. They don’t meet this year.
“It’s a sigh of relief for their mother and me,” Joe Thorgesen said. “The boys were fine with it, but it was tough on us. They’re both each other’s biggest supporter.”
That’s pretty obvious.
“It’s pretty cool to see Mike as a head coach, too,” Boone said. “He deserves it. He’s ready to be a head coach — more than ready. And it works out well with him at Kaneland. I’m happy for him to keep the tradition going.”
Mike and his wife, Lindsay, have a 4-year-old daughter named Mia and are expecting again, this time a boy. He’s due in early August, about the time football practice begins.
The beat goes on.