Coaches

Wolfpack Football Head Coach Tony Harris

"Our destination is clear and there is no shortcut. Our path is strewn with every possible obstacle and pitfall imaginable: excuses, inexperience, and just plain bad luck. But our legacy and tenacity propel us, urge us on. Every obstacle we overcome strengthens us, strengthens our resove, steels our sense of purpose. Our destination is clear, and we are up to the task before us."
Coach Harris

Coach Harris brings 7 years coaching experience to his current position as Head Coach of the St. Ignatius Wolfpack. Prior positions include coach at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH.

Coach Harris is an Ohio native, playing football at Archbishop Alter High School before going on to play at Vanderbilt University.

Mr. Harris is an English teacher and department chair at St. Ignatius College Prep.

For additional information on the St. Ignatius Football program please contact Mr. Harris at

tony.harris@ignatius.org

John Curry

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, his greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle -victorious"

Coach Curry brings 7 years of coaching experience to his current position as Assistant Head Coach. He is also defensive line coach of the Varsity Team and coordinates strength and conditioning training. Prior positions include O-Line and D-Line freshman coach at Notre Dame High School (00-02) and O-Line coach and video coordinator at Benedictine University (98).

Coach Curry is a Chicago native, playing football in grade school for Immaculate Conception and at Weber High School. Coach Curry attended Washburn University (Topeka, KS) and Benedictine University (Lisle, IL), receiving 4 college letters for his football performance.

Mr. Curry earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Benedictine University and is currently a 4th generation Chicago Police Officer assigned to the Special Operations Unit.

Don Homyk

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next without a loss of enthusiasm." Sir Winston Churchill

Quarterback Coach Homyk was raised in Parma, Ohio where he quarterbacked a state –ranked, league championship team, was league MVP and All-State, and was the recipient of the Lou Groza Award as the top high school player in the Greater Cleveland area. He played college football for legendary Penn State University football Coach Joe Paterno until a career-ending knee injury in 1975. Coach Homyk then transferred to Yale University, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He also attended Northwestern University School of Law and currently conducts a Chicago litigation/business counseling practice.

donaldhomyk@aol.com

Nick De Fina

"Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." Vince Lombardi

Position coach of the Varsity Linebackers, Coach DeFina is in his 3rd year as football coach at St. Ignatius.

Coach DeFina is an Illinois native, starting at Quarterback and Linebacker for 3 years at Waukegan West High School. He was twice the team captain, leading Waukegan to the IHSA state playoffs.

Mr. DeFina earned his Bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and is currently a futures trader at the Chicago Merchantile Exchange.

Tim Butler

"The game of life is a lot like football. You tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity."

Head Sophomore Coach Tim Butler is in his second year coaching football at St. Ignatius after coming over from Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

Coach Butler is from south suburban Flossmoor where he began his playing career at Infant Jesus of Prague and Homewood-Flossmoor High School. He went on to play at Eastern Illinois University graduating in 2000.

Coach Butler is an Physical Education teacher at South Loop Elementary and Head 7/8th grade boys basketball coach.

John Joyce

"If you take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves." Emily Dickinson

Coach Joyce is in his sixth year coaching having come from Luther North after four years as the Frosh/Soph offensive coordinator as well as the DB and receivers coach.
Mr. Joyce is a native of Chicago’s Northwest side and a firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department.

Quinn Brennan

"There is no force greater in this world than that of a man determined to rise."

A native of Peoria, Coach Brennan graduated from Peoria Notre Dame High School where he was named All-Area. He received a BA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota. While playing in the MIAC conference, Coach Brennan was a four year letter winner and two year starter as fullback.

Mr. Brennan is currently a full-time student at John Marshall Law School.

Mike Ramirez

"The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goals, The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach."

Coach Ramirez brings 14 years of coaching experience in the Chicago Public Schools to his current position as assistant coach. He is a position coach for the Wolfpack Varsity/JV Linebackers and assists with the Offensive line. Coach Ramirez is in his 1st year as a coach for St. Ignatius.
Coach Ramirez is an Illinois native, but grew up playing football in Texas. He returned to the Midwest to finish his high school career before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Coach Ramirez played two years of football for the U.S.M.C. on the Hawaiian Ground/Air Team and continued his playing career from 1983-1991 for various semi-pro teams in the Chicagoland area.
Coach Ramirez graduated from ITT Tech and is currently the disciplinarian at Lake View High School.