Coaches

Bill grew up in Berwyn and graduated Morton in 1947. He played football, wrestled, and swam. He twice finished third in the 165-pound division at the state wrestling meet. Bill received a football scholarship to attend the University of Illinois where he played football, wrestled and was a nationally ranked pole vaulter.

As an 182-pound, offensive center Bill lettered three years at Illinois and was the team captain his senior year and earned all-Big Ten honors, as Illinois went 7-2 and was ranked in the top ten in the nation. Bill was named to the Associated Press All-American First Team. Illinois football coach Pete Elliot said Bill “is the finest player he ever worked with. He’s a hustler and a perfectionist.” Bill was also an outstanding wrestler at Illinois and nationally ranked pole vaulter.

Bill returned to Morton High School and College and coached football, wrestling and track. Bill retired in 1994.” Bill Vohaska was my football coach, and I would have run through a wall for him.” (Dwight Pawlowski 1962.)

Bob is Czech, as were his mom and dad, Zdenka and Anton. He was raised at 1632 60th Court and attended Komensky Grade School in Berwyn. He was on the 1941 Morton State Basketball team. He coached at Morton and Morton College for over 45 years. He coached basketball, football and golf. During WWII, Bob flew PBY’s rescuing Navy pilots. He was the badminton champ of his division. He graduated Northwestern University in 1947 and got his master at the U of I and Washington State.

Bob is Czech, as were his mom and dad, Zdenka and Anton. He was raised at 1632 60th Court and attended Komensky Grade School in Berwyn. He was on the 1941 Morton State Basketball team. He coached at Morton and Morton College for over 45 years. He coached basketball, football and golf. During WWII, Bob flew PBY’s rescuing Navy pilots. He was the badminton champ of his division. He graduated Northwestern University in 1947 and got his master at the U of I and Washington State.

Bob is 93 and still an active guy and one of the best ambassadors of Morton High School that there is. Written 2/23/15.

Morton Boys' Baseball Head Coach of 1970 Baseball State Champions.

1970 Baseball State Champions

Kneeling Row: Tony Sahal, Dan Slomiaty, Mike Bartkowski, Jim Scalzitti, Bobby Kokenes, Fran Celmar
Middle Row: Head Coach Doug Peterson, Larry Wierer, Rich Flaza, Dennis Hejna, Mike Steinke, Bobby Bianco, Coach Len Zabroski
Top Row: Jug Olmstead, Jim Caffarello, Randy Flebinger, Gary Olmstead, John Asan, Phil Miska, Tom Abma, Art Grzeskowiak, Joe Genna

Jim was born Dec. 21, 1922 in Berwyn, Ill and went to St. Leonard’s. He was all – conference football and baseball player at Morton and All-State in Football. Jim got a football scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin. His coach at Wisconsin was Harry Stuhldreher, who was the QB for the four horsemen of Notre Dame legend. Wisconsin should have been national champs in 1942 when Jim was a soph, with his roommate “Crazy Legs” Hirsch. Ohio State edged them out even though Wis. Beat them 24-7. Wisconsin lost to Iowa on a sloppy, rainy day 6-0. Jim also played baseball at Wisconsin in center field with a .385 batting average. At the end of 1942, Jim went into the Army and made it back to Wisconsin for the 1946 and 1947 season.

Jim returned to Morton to teach and coach. He was a very successful football coach. His 1964 and 1969 teams were undefeated.

Jim was Bohemian. He was raised in Cicero around 25th and 53 Avenue. He graduated Morton in 1933. He was a star on the Morton Basketball State Championship team in 1932. Jim got a basketball scholarship and attended the University of Illinois. He was a starting forward on the 1936 Illinois team and point guard on the 1937 Illinois Big Ten Championship team. He team mates included Lou Boudreau and his roommate Harry Combs, the future U of I basketball coach. Jim also played soccer at the U of I.

As the coach of Morton High School, his teams won the Suburban League Basketball Championships 6 times. His 1950 and 1951 teams won 35 straight games and was ranked “first in the state”, losing to Hinsdale in the sectional finals. His last year coaching 1960-61 his team advanced to the “Sweet Sixteen”, losing to Thorton High School. Thorton eventually finished second to the undefeated Collinsville state champs.

He was the Morton Athletic Director from 1961 to 1970. He died November 11, 1990, at the age of 77. He was also elected to the Illinois State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ken was born and raised in Berwyn in a house on the 2900 block of Maple Avenue. He still lives in this same house. Ken coached highly successful football and wrestling teams for over 30 years at Morton High School. Ken is one of the foremost ambassadors of Morton and is the main reason we started the Morton Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ken has been involved in organized football for the last sixty years. He is a product of Fenwick High School in Oak Park and was a member of the great Fenwick teams that played in the 1945 and 1948 Kelly Bowls. He attended Monmouth College, where he played football and baseball. He was a two-year starter in football and was named all-conference in 1952. He also earned three letters in baseball at Monmouth. Ken has been and still is a driving force is getting many Morton football players scholarships to attend Monmouth.

After graduation, he served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Korean War. After he had retired from Morton, he served the Chicago Bears as a college scout, pro player evaluator and advance scout. He also served in the same capacity for the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.

He was a pioneer along with other suburban coaches to bring about a State of Illinois football playoff championships. In 2000, Ken was inducted into the Catholic Hall of Fame. Ken has been married to his wife Sheryl for 50 years and is the proud parents of Gary, Kevin, Eric, Joni, and Susan. Thank you, Ken, for all your hard work and strength of personality.