Murney Lazier

Beloved former ETHS coach Murney Lazier died peacefully on May 11. Lazier coached football, basketball and wrestling in his time at ETHS, but his greatest coach- ing accomplishments came as the leader of the football team. He served as head coach for 18 years beginning in 1957, amassing an overall record of 125-17-4, collecting 13 Suburban League Championships and 6 State championships. Lazier also introduced high school lacrosse to the state of Illinois, beginning as an intramural sport and soon becoming an official spring sport. Lazier believed that coaches must be role models and that they have the opportunity to significantly influence their players’ lives. Lazier was a tough but loving leader who worked tirelessly to see the success of each and every player on his roster. He will be missed, but his legacy will endure.

Ken McGonagle

Coach Ken McGonagle passed away peacefully at 88 years old on May 10, surrounded by his family. McGonagle was a teacher and coach at ETHS for 34 years until his retirement in 1989. His primary coaching positions were as the head coach of the varsity boys soccer and baseball teams. McGonagle accumulated the most wins by any coach in the history of our school at 727, while also winning three State championships in boys soccer and adding a State championship in summer baseball. Like coach Lazier with lacrosse, coach McGonagle introduced soccer to ETHS in 1959 with little background in the sport. In his time before reaching ETHS, McGonagle was an impressive athlete himself. He lettered in both baseball and basketball at the University of Minnesota and spent time in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system upon college graduation. Coach McGonagle was a remarkable athlete, leader and example, and he will be missed dearly by the Evanston community and the countless people he impacted.