John Holecek and Danny Schaechter Lead Loyola’s New Football Strategy

John Holecek’s return to coaching at Loyola after three years of semiretirement brings changes to the team’s staff. Joining him is Danny Schaechter, the new offensive coordinator, who brings a unique experience to the role. Schaechter previously called plays for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Early results with a more pass-focused offense have been promising for unbeaten Loyola.

“So far, it’s been great,” Holecek commented. “The Catholic League used to focus on iso, power, and counter, representing old-school football. This isn’t the case now. We have diverse personnel packages and not the traditional Catholic League grind with constant running and play-action.”

Loyola, with a 3-0 record, is ranked No. 5 in the Chicago Tribune’s high school football top 25. They face No. 3 Brother Rice in a CCL Blue division game on Friday. This matchup is crucial as the team competes for its fourth Class 8A state title in five years. Despite these challenges, Schaechter recalls more pressure-packed experiences, specifically meeting eighth grader Williams and his father to persuade him to join Gonzaga.

“Caleb was destined to be special, whether or not he met me,” Schaechter said. “I’ve never seen a high school kid throw as he did, especially an eighth grader.”

Williams and Gonzaga achieved success when they won their conference championship during his sophomore year. A memorable game against DeMatha culminated in a 53-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass by Williams, marked by multiple lead changes in the final seconds. Schaechter shared this story with Loyola players to emphasize a “never give up” attitude.

Schaechter hails from Northbrook, Illinois, and played high school football at Glenbrook North. He discovered his passion for coaching while attending Illinois State. Initially, he worked with Randy Trivers at Leesburg High School in Florida and later moved to Gonzaga when Trivers relocated close to his Maryland roots. Schaechter decided to come home, coaching at Libertyville and developing a high-powered offense. Eventually, he embraced an opportunity at Loyola, aligning with its strength-focused approach.

“There’s a lot of transfer from what we did at Libertyville,” Schaechter noted. “I wish I had run our current plays with Caleb because he would have excelled.” Schaechter remains humble about his tenure with Williams, as noted by Loyola junior quarterback Matthew Lee. “He’s pretty quiet and humble about that,” Lee observed.

The Ramblers aim to regain winning momentum after an unexpected 4-5 season. Matthew Lee now holds the primary quarterback position, while former quarterback Dominic Maloney, now prioritized for his baseball skills, plays safety. Holecek remarked, “(Maloney) is one of those kids you’d pick first on the playground. Having both on the field strengthens the team.” With such leadership and strategic shifts, Loyola seeks to maintain its tradition of excellence under Holecek and Schaechter.