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Since 2019, Beau Desherow worked in the Loyola Academy admissions department, away from the Rambler team that he both worked and played on for years.
Then last fall, legendary Loyola head coach John Holocek informed Desherow he was planning to retire after a 17-season career. He asked if Desherow would be interested in following him.
“My initial thought was to talk John out of stepping down,” Desherow explained. “Once I knew John had his mind made up and there was no hope of changing it, I started to think about the opportunity. I took some time to discuss the decision to apply with my wife Danielle and with our four sons. Once I knew that I had the support of my family, I started to pursue the opportunity. Why? Loyola Academy is a part of my DNA. I played here, coached here and my sons played here. I am committed to the success of our program and the development of our student athletes. We have tremendous support from our community and there really isn’t any place I rather be.”
On March 15, Desherow was named the new Loyola head football coach, succeeding Holocek, who guided the Ramblers to three state championships including the 2022 IHSA 8A state title.
“Beau Desherow is absolutely the right person to lead our championship football program and continue the football tradition of excellence,” Vice President for Athletics and Fitness Genevieve Atwood said as part of a statement.
Desherow added, “I’m very excited and my mindset is now one of preparation and getting ready for our 25 days of contact in the summer.”
Thus, a new Loyola chapter starts for Desherow whose association with the team goes to the early 90s, when he was a standout outside linebacker for the squads that captured consecutive Chicago Catholic League championships and advancing far into the state playoffs.
“I didn’t see myself becoming a coach but I definitely loved the X and O’s and the strategy and the why of what we were doing,” he remembered.
After a college football career both at The University of Tulsa and later at Chicago’s North Park University, the Des Plaines native initially worked in IT consulting.
But in August 2003 his high school coach John Hoerster died suddenly. Desherow saw his old teammates and coaches at the wake and sensed it was time to return to Loyola.
“This is what I need to be doing and I need to be coaching,” he remembers thinking.
While also working administrative roles at the high school, Desherow signed on as the team’s varsity outside linebacker coach. In 2009, Desherow was named head coach for the Ramblers’ sophomore team, returned to the varsity squad in 2012 as defensive line coach.
He was also inducted into Loyola’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
In 2019, Desherow stepped away from coaching taking a position as vice president for admissions and enrollment as he wanted more time on the weekends to watch two of his four sons play college football.
Now, he returns to coaching after being away from the sidelines.
“There is some nervousness about it, but it is the kind of nervousness that drives you to put in the work and make sure you are prepared,” he said.
On the flip side, he sees a potential benefit.
“It will provide some fresh perspective,” he said. “The time away from coaching solidified how much I love coaching and how much I wanted to be a coach.”
Desherow inherits a Rambler coming off a championship, but Jake Stearney, who set many passing records at Loyola, will graduate in June.
“We have some big shoes to fill,” Desherow said.
He intends to wrap up his current job in June and then transition over completely to his head coaching responsibilities.
“I want our kids to be the best not only on the field, but off the field,” he said. “That is one of our main missions is to help develop young men to be the best they can be, to be able to face diversity and overcome it, to not only be good football players but great students and when they get older to be great men.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
