Varsity Coaching Staff
Bill Bellecomo - Head Coach - email Coach Bellecomo
Coach Bellecomo is entering his 20th year in District 128. Bill is currently a dean of students. Coach Bellecomo is entering his 19th season coaching in the VHHS football program. This will be Coach Bellecomo’s 6th season as head coach. In 2016, the Cougars were state runners-up in class 5A. Coach Bellecomo started his coaching career in 1993 at Addison Trail High School, where he coached freshman football for three years. In 2000, Coach Bellecomo began coaching at Vernon Hills High School where he has coached at every level along the way.
Go Cougars!
Otto Zemen - Assistant Coach
Otto played Football, Wrestling, and Baseball at Northwestern University where he was an All-American wrestler in 1969. He taught and coached at Riverside-Brookfield High School for 40 years. He is in his 47 th year of coaching high school football including 28 years as the Head Coach at Riverside-Brookfield.
Otto was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Illinois Wrestling and Officials Hall of Fame in 2000. He is very excited to join the staff of Vernon Hills High School.
Greg Stilling - Assistant Coach - email Coach Stilling
Coach Greg Stilling has been a part of the football program since it's inaugural season. He is the Assistant Principal for Student Services at VHHS and coaches Inside Linebackers. Greg is a graduate of Augustana College and went to Crystal Lake Central High School. He lives in Libertyville with his wife Amy and his two children, a daughter Molly (15) and son Jake (12). Coach Stilling is excited about this group of senior athletes, they are an outstanding group of young men to work with everyday. The Stilling family is excited for another season of Cougar Football. Go Cougars!!
Jay Czarnecki - Assistant Coach - email Coach Czarnecki
Coach Czar is starting his 19th year in D128. He serves VHHS as a mathematics teacher, winter intramural director, assistant varsity football coach and head varsity baseball coach. He is in charge of coaching linebackers and running backs for the varsity football team. Jay has a son, JJ (16), that is a Sophomore at VHHS. We are looking forward to another great season.
Tim Dydo - Assistant Coach - email Coach Dydo
Coach Dydo is in his 23rd year of coaching in the district. He is the Varsity Quarterbacks coach. At St. Rita High School in Chicago, Dydo was All-State in football and baseball. As a graduate of Xavier University he lettered in Football for 3 years. He was the fourth leading passer in the nation in 1973 and was named Honorable Mention All-American. In 1992 Dydo was elected to the Xavier University Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach Dydo resides in Libertyville with his wife Lynn. Their three children are graduates of the district.
Dave Schroetter - Assistant Coach - email Coach Schroetter
Coach Schroetter has been coaching football in D128 for over 20 years and this is his 12th season at Vernon Hills. He organizes the special teams and works with the Inside Linebackers. He is the lead Strength Training instructor in the Physical Welfare department. He lives in Mundelein with his wife Patti, and his sons Colton and Jake. Coach Schroetter is looking forward to a great season of Cougar Football.
Avelino Cortez - Assistant Coach - email Coach Cortez
Coach Cortez has been a part of the VHHS football program since 2010, and he currently coaches the defensive backs at the varsity level. Coach Cortez obtained his M.S. in Instructional Leadership from Roosevelt University in 2018, his M.S. in Kinesiology (Sport Psychology) from Illinois State University in 2007 and his B.S. from Northwestern University in 2004. When not on the field, Coach Cortez can be found in the classroom teaching A.P. Research and Freshman Literature and Composition. He is looking forward to another successful year at VHHS. Go Cougars.
Mike Larsen - Assistant Coach - email Coach Larsen
Coach Larsen has been coaching High School football for 19 years. He coached at Libertyville High School for 14 years and Highland Park High School for 3 years. He played at Trinity International University for Leslie Frazier as a running back. Currently, Mike coaches the wide receivers for the Cougars. Mike is happily married to his wife Wendy with two wonderful boys Brady (9) and Brendan (11). Mike has been Teaching since 1998 and currently teaches Physical Education and Wellness at Edgewood Middle school in Highland Park.
Ryan Feeney - Assistant Coach - email Coach Feeney
Coach Feeney is in his 14th season coaching high school football and second at VHHS. He coaches the offensive line. He is a part of the Math department at VHHS. Ryan is a graduate of Augustana College where he played football for the Vikings. Ryan and his wife, Amy, live in Lindenhurst with children Molly (5) and Artie (4).
Freshmen Coaching Staff
Rob Fischer - Head Freshman Coach - email Coach Fischer
Coach Fischer enters his 6th year as part of the football staff at Vernon Hills High School and 5th as the Freshman Head Coach. Coach Fischer obtained his B.S. from the University of Illinois in Sports Management and played on the U of I baseball team from 1998-2001. He obtained his M.A. from Northeastern Illinois University as a Learning Behavioral Specialist and is in his 6th year as a Case Manager and Tutorial teacher in the Special Services department at VHHS. Coach Fischer is very excited to be a part of the Cougar football program and is looking forward to a productive and successful year in the classroom and out on the gridiron. Go Cougars
Rick Hill - Assistant Coach - email Coach Hill
Coach Hill enters his 4th year as part of the Vernon Hills football staff. Coach Hill will be working with quarterbacks and defensive line. Coach Hill also is a member of the baseball coaching staff at VH. He is looking forward to working with this years Freshman Cougars.