Oak Lawn's New Football Coach Looks to Tap Into Winning Formula

Sean Lucas was a team-leading pass receiver on his high school football. He played on state championship teams. He coached state championship teams.

He plans to bring that same kind of success to Oak Lawn.

Lucas has been named as the Spartans’ new head football coach. He replaces Ron Thornburgh after a 2-7 season. Lucas already has spent two years in the Oak Lawn program, one as the head freshman coach.

“Winning right away is our biggest focus,” he said in a news release issued Wednesday following the announcement of his hiring. “We will not be in a rebuilding or transition mode. We want to coach players to find a role on our team so they will have a successful and enjoyable experience playing football.”

Lucas has 10 years experience coaching high school football under his belt, eight at his alma mater, Providence Catholic High School. During his time as an assistant coach with the Celtics, they won three state championships and reached the IHSA state semifinals on two other occasions.

He was a player on the 1994 Providence team that won the Class 5A state title. In ’95, he led the Celtics in receptions and in receiving touchdowns.

“The primary mission of the football program is to motivate student-athletes to strive for excellence,” Lucas said. “By participating in football and learning what it takes to be part of a team, student-athletes will experience leadership skills and discipline as well as develop a strong work ethic and sense of humility.”