Athletico Physical Therapy recently announced the selection of Tinley Park High School Coach Chris Vitt as the 2023 Athletico Coach of the Year. We in District 228 are extremely proud of Coach Vitt and all of his selfless efforts to serve the Tinley Park community.
The Athletico Coach of the Year Award recognizes coaches for all they do to serve their local communities, including sportsmanship, coaching success and classroom involvement. In honor of his achievements, Coach Vitt will receive an engraved award, a $250 Amazon gift card, and an Athletico prize package.
"Coach Vitt's nomination for Coach of the Year is a testament to excellence," said Mike Overturf, LAT, ATC, NASM-PES, Director of Athletic Training Services, Athletico. "It shines a spotlight on the profound influence he has had and continues to have on student athletes at Tinley Park High School. His mentorship both on and off the field has not only sculpted skill in players, but it also has empowered them to become better individuals. We wish Coach Vitt and his teams continued success!"
Coach Vitt has a long legacy at TPHS as both a social studies teacher and as the varsity head football coach, among coaching several other sports throughout his 17-year tenure. After taking over the varsity program in 2022, he led his student-athletes to overcome an initial trying year to a 5-4 record with a trip to the state playoffs during the 2023 season.
However, Coach Vitt's focus was not only on achieving a winning record but also the personal growth of his athletes on and off the football field. For Coach Vitt, his players are students first and athletes second, and he strives to create a culture of continuous learning among the team, including emotional, physical and character development. Coach Vitt's impact extends far beyond developing athletes because of his dedication to ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive in the classroom. The most rewarding part of his role is helping student-athletes realize and reach their full potential.
“It is a very cool honor to receive on behalf of Tinley Park High School. I believe it is really a program/school award more than an award just for me,” Vitt said. “It is a huge credit to our coaching and strength/conditioning staff, our teachers and, most importantly, our young men who have embraced the challenges that we put in front of them on a daily basis. We ask a lot of them and expect a lot of them, and they are now starting to expect a lot out of themselves, which is what it is all about.”
“I want people to realize that Tinley Park High School has a lot to offer student athletes and their families,” Vitt continued. “It would be hard to find facilities that are better than ours but what is even more powerful is that at Tinley Park we have amazing coaches and teachers in our building whose main goal is to help students reach their full potential academically and athletically. Tinley Park High School is one of the best kept secrets in the South Suburbs.”
The Coach of the Year Award is open to any junior high or high school level coach within the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin or Washington, D.C. Nominations are open to the public and submitted via an online entry form. Nominators were required to explain why their coach should be recognized. A selection committee within Athletico reviews the nominations before selecting a winner. Nominations for the 2024 Coach of the Year Award will be accepted in fall 2024.
Learn more on Athletico’s website, here.