Published: November 04, 2009 12:51 am      

Former coaches still play big part

DANVILLE — Five years ago when B.J. Luke was putting together his staff at Danville High, he went back into the past and grabbed two coaches that were with the Vikings when he played.

John Fogleman and Frank Luzenske have been patrolling the sidelines at Ned Whitesell Field since the 1960s and both men were on the staff of the second-place Danville team in 1976.

“They were both very instrumental in my upbringing here in Danville and I just felt very fortunate that both of them still wanted to be around high school football,’’ Luke said. “Bringing them in was good for our young coaches to see how they interact and handle the young kids.

“That’s been very good for our staff. They have a way with the young kids.’’

For Fogleman, Luke’s call just happened to coincide with his return to Danville.

“I had spent 18 years in Florida, and my wife and I had decided to move back when I got the call from B.J.,’’ he said. “I’ve know B.J., I know his high standards and I know what he does for kids.

“I wanted to be part of that. I was really excited about coming back to Danville.’’

Luzenske, who also spent some time in Florida, was already back and working with the Vikings when Luke took over.

“I got excited like a little kid when I found out that B.J. Luke was going to be the head coach,’’ Luzenske said. “I told him what I had been doing and he told me what he wanted me to do.’’

Luzenske wound up being the line coach for the freshmen team.

“I wasn’t really excited to do, but he said that he needed me to do it,’’ Luzenske said. “After a year or so, I didn’t want to do anything else.

“I like the fact that I get to work with discipline and fundamentals with the freshmen.’’

Both Fogleman and Luzenske has seen a big transformation in the players during their five seasons with Luke.

“When I came in with B.J., we had a group of kids that didn’t have any direction,’’ Fogleman said. “They were good kids, but without the good direction at the time.

“To see this group of kids grow up over the past four years has been unbelievable. Each year, you see them taking the next step.’’

Luzenske, who can be heard every morning on WDAN-AM 1490, knows exactly the impact this team has made on the Danville community.

“They have woke them up,’’ he said. “The people of Danville are excited about what this program is doing.

“Every day, I have someone asking me about the Danville Vikings.’’

In addition to being a coach on the last regular season undefeated team in Danville history, Luzenske’s grandson Jake Strader was the Vikings quarterback.

“We’ve had a pretty strong tradition and we’re getting that back,’’ Luzenske said.

According to Fogleman, this group of Vikings reminds him of the second-place team in 1976.

“I was telling B.J., that this team reminds me so much of that year we lost to Joliet Catholic in the state final,’’ said Fogleman, who led Danville to the state playoffs in 1983. “That year, our kids and our coaching staff was so confident that we would win the state championship, it was shock to us when we didn’t.

“We didn’t have any stars on that team. We didn’t have any outstanding running backs, but we had a great defense. That’s kind of how we are now.’’

So, why did these two coaches leave Florida to come back to Danville?

“This is a funny place,’’ said Luke, who also returned to his hometown. “It’s hard to tell people exactly what the bond is that is so strong.

“You hear about it all of the time. I’ve gotten e-mails from all across the country this year and most of them want to know how coach Luzenske is doing or how coach Fogleman is doing.’’

Both Fogleman and Luzenske are busy this week as the Danville Vikings (10-0) are preparing for a second-round Class 6A playoff game with Oak Lawn Richards (9-1) on Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on WDAN-AM 1490 and WRHK-FM 94.9.

There is also an adult fan bus available for $25 per seat. For information, contact Cathy Flannery at 444-1556.