The starting quarterback of the football team and the athletic director may play the most essential roles in high school sports. In the case of ETHS, those two positions are filled by the same name: Livatino.

Athletic Director Chris Livatino had a successful volleyball career as a student at ETHS before returning to coach the sport he grew up loving. Somewhere along that volleyball journey, he met his future wife and fellow volleyball player Megan Livatino. The couple’s son Colin Livatino was never pushed by his parents to grow into an ETHS athletics superstar, despite his father’s ascendancy to Evanston’s athletic director.

“My wife and I made an effort not to pressure Colin to play sports, but he quickly fell in love with them anyway,” said Chris Livatino.

Like many other highly gifted athletes, Colin Livatino played a wide variety of sports as a young kid, including basketball, volleyball and football. He chose to pursue football at the highest level because of a little game he started with his dad.

“My dad and I got really into a game of catch, where he’d throw the balls to me and I would have to see how many in a row I could catch,” he remarked.

It was through this game that Colin Livatino developed a remarkable pair of hands, which, combined with his relatively small size, led to him starting as a wide receiver on the freshman team. When a vacancy appeared at the quarterback position, Colin Livatino was the man to fill it, channeling the game of catch he played with his dad.

“For the game of catch to work the receiver must throw it back to the thrower. As time passed, Colin got more into the throwing element of the game and that translated to his work on the field,” commented Chris Livatino.

To fulfill his new role on the team Colin Livatino would need to get physically up to snuff.

“The weight room has been my biggest friend so far in my journey. I am now able to break tackles in a way I could not have dreamed of four years ago,” he said.

Colin Livatino’s incredible physical transformation can be attributed to one thing; his impeccable work ethic – something his dad claims runs in the Livatino bloodline.

“I have always held work ethic in the highest regard when it comes to values. It is an amazing trait for a person to have, as it helps in all parts of life, including sports and school. So I made sure from a young age that Colin picked that up,” explained Chris Livatino.

As a kid, Colin Livatino would frequently follow his father along the sidelines of ETHS football games, some of the most exciting games being against the Kit’s bitter rivals.This made his two iconic performances against New Trier even more special. Colin Livatino would total 640 yards and eight touchdowns in those two games combined, leading his team to wins by a score of 26-22 in 2023 and 40-20 in 2024. The 2023 New Trier game would see Colin Livatino produce one of the greatest moments in recent ETHS sports history as he connected with running back Damian Timberlake for a 46-yard game-winning touchdown in front of a packed Lazier on Homecoming night.

Colin Livatino put it simply, “Beating New Trier will always be fun.”

While Colin and Chris may grab the most attention, they are far from the only Livatinos making a major impact at ETHS. Chris’s sister-in-law Marie Livatino is the head of the PE department, which means that she has power when it comes to creating the curriculum and assigning teachers to classes. Her daughter Cece Livatino is on the varsity girls volleyball team, which is coming off a greatly improved season that ended in regional finals.

The Livatinos are a powerhouse family in Evanston sports. Both Chris and Megan Livatino are talented athletes who chose to pursue volleyball at the college level at Division I schools Northwestern and Illinois, and Colin Livatino is choosing to attend Amherst University, a Division III University. Even though Amherst may play in DIII, Colin Livatino and his parents believe that it will be a perfect match, as it will allow him to play football as well as pursue academics at the highest level.

“In the end, high school football’s biggest service to Colin is it has allowed him to get into a great academic college that would have ordinarily been incredibly difficult for him to get into,” said Chris Livatino.

The impact Colin Livatino’s dad made on him growing up is one of his main motivators. After college Colin Livatino intends to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a coach, but for football.

“I have always looked up to my dad in a big way. Just being around him gives me a lot of self-confidence,” Colin Livatino commented.

For Colin Livatino, following in his father’s footsteps is nothing new.

“During sports games, I used to follow my dad around everywhere he went. I was always standing there, feeling like I was actually in the conversation, even though I was not,” Colin Livatino stated. “I just felt when people knew that I was his son people respected me a lot more.”

Even though his dad may have given him a confidence boost through his impressive presence, Colin Livatino believes that his dad’s biggest contribution to his character is through his obsessiveand driven nature.

“Being hardworking is an incredibly great characteristic to have it is great for both sports and school so I made to transfer that skill over to my son,” said Chris Livatino.

Colin Livatino plans to channel the traits his dad taught him into his college career. Similarly, Chris Livatino continues to advance the athletic program at ETHS by teaching students to be dedicated and persevere through hardships.

For most high school athletes, the coach is a source of guidance and an authoritative figure for the team. But for Rodrigo Salinas, a current sophomore wrestler at ETHS, his coach is also his father.

Rodrigo cherishes having his father as his coach but balancing family and competition isn’t always easy.

“It’s hard sometimes,” Rodrigo admits, “but it’s also really fun.”

Rudy Salinas, Rodrigo’s father, has had a long coaching career of 22 years. Over the course of his time coaching, he has gotten the chance to coach all three of his sons— Rodrigo and his two older sons Rafael and Ricardo. For Rudy, coaching Rodrigo, and his two older graduated brothers has been an incredible experience for him.

“It’s living the dream. It’s incredible, the best of both worlds,” said Coach Salinas.
While coaching Rodrigo is a unique and rewarding experience for Rudy, it isn’t always easy but the two work hard to ensure that their family connection doesn’t interfere with the overall team dynamic.
“When we’re in practice, he’s my coach,” said Rodrigo. “He’s not my dad. When I’m talking to him it’s ‘Coach Salinas’-not dad.”

This clear distinction between father and coach helps the Salinas’s maintain professionalism and keep their focus on the task at hand.

A huge key to making this dynamic work for the Salinas’s is the car rides home after practice. It’s during these car rides where Rodrigo and Coach Salinas can merge the two sides of their relationship—coach and player and father and son.
“I think he and I probably communicate the most on rides home, on how to navigate the best environment, on when to approach, what to say, and what is the best way to be motivated. I’ve enjoyed that probably the most,” mentioned Coach Salinas.

In addition to his strong bond with Rodrigo, Coach Salinas believes that it is important to have a similar connection with the rest of the team. Also, he believes that it is important that Rodrigo doesn’t just interact with him, but also has good relationships with the other coaches on the wrestling staff.“Rodrigo has a very good relationship with my assistant coaches. They’re all Hall of Famers and head coaches in their own right,” says Coach Salinas. “When I’m not available, it’s even better because Rodrigo goes to them for guidance.”

This collaboration between the players and all the coaches is what makes the program so special. Coach Salinas has created a space where all the players, and especially Rodrigo, can get help and support from other coaches without disrupting the team dynamic. Rudy has grown to love the dynamic of the ETHS wrestling program.

“Every season, every off-season, I express a sense of gratitude that I’m in those shoes [ of Head Coach],” he said, reflecting on his long career at ETHS.

As they work towards both an individual state championship for Rodrigo as well as other team accomplishments, Rodrigo and Coach Salinas have navigated the delicate line between team and family, while motivating the rest of the team to become one of the top programs in the state.

Sports can divide families. Simple collegiate rivalries, like Ohio State and Michigan, can stir up trouble; the intensity and pressure of youth sports can harm relationships. Rarely are families deeply involved in sports able to be so bonded through them, but the Lesch family is.

Annie Lesch, the mom of the family, is the ETHS varsity field hockey coach and also coaches many Evanston youth lacrosse teams. Bridget Lesch, the eldest daughter of the family, is a senior captain of both the field hockey and lacrosse teams. Bridget Lesch’s younger sister Natalie Lesch is a junior and is also on the field hockey and lacrosse team. For the Leschs, sports have always been more than just a game. They have always been a big part of the community in Evanston, but they now have the privilege of being on the same team representing ETHS athletics.

“Lacrosse is a part of my parents, it’s in my family and it makes me love the game even more,” Natalie Lesch said.

Annie Lesch played lacrosse at Kenyon College and her husband Tom Lesch played at Denison, so when they started a family, it was clear that stick sports would be present in the lives of their kids. As the kids grew up, the family began to bond over their shared love of field hockey and lacrosse.

“Field Hockey definitely brings me, my mom and Natalie Lesch together,” said Bridget Lesch. “When we come back from games we sit on the couch for hours talking about it.”

Bridget Lesch will continue her passion for field hockey and lacrosse at Williams College. Throughout the process, Bridget Lesch’s parents, being a part of athletic programs, helped her in pursuing her goal of playing college sports.

Having the opportunity to watch two of your kids play on the same team is rare and exciting, but being able to stand on the sidelines with your two kids and coach them at the highest high school level is something few families get to experience. However, it’s one the Leschs are familiar with.

“Sports have always been a part of my family. My dad was my first soccer coach, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a coach,” said Annie Lesch

As a coach, she has been able to make history with her two daughters, taking the field hockey team to State in 2023 for the first time in school history. As a mom, she created a memory with her family that she will never forget.

“Not every team gets to experience going to State, and having done that with them was really special,” said Annie Lesch

The three being on the same team doesn’t come without its challenges, though. Coaching your kids is no easy task, nor is being coached by your mom and sharing the field with your sister.

“I think sometimes it’s hard to take my mother’s advice as a coach, but I try and I tell her if I disagree with a drill we did in practice,” said Bridget Lesch. “I’m a lot harder on Natalie Lesch than I would be on someone who isn’t my sister … It’s really fun to be able to drive everywhere to practices and games with someone, but it’s also a lot of time together”

The Lesch’s are always around each other, whether they like it or not, but it has been like this for as long as they can remember.

“I don’t know what it’s like not having coaches as my parents. When I would mess up in a game it would come home instead of being left on the field like it is for most kids. They made me realize how hard I needed to work for things,” Natalie Lesch said.

For Annie Lesch, coaching her daughters can be a struggle at times but is also very rewarding.

“They’re two of my harder players to coach,” said Annie Lesch. “But it’s the icing on the cake getting to coach them.”

Volleyball is not just a sport for the McDermott family, it’s in their blood. Mike McDermott, the current varsity girls’ volleyball coach, has played and coached the sport since he was little and has now coached three of his kids. The latest to play under Mike McDermott is his daughter, junior setter Casey McDermott.

Because of her family’s history with the sport, Casey McDermott has been around volleyball since she was little, and it’s been a longtime goal of hers to be on varsity.

“My whole life I’ve been watching volleyball,” said Casey McDermott. “I would watch the varsity team when I was little, and finally being on it and getting my dad to be coaching me is a highlight.”

Even though Mike McDermott has only been coaching Casey McDermott officially for the last two years, he has been a coach for her since she started playing the sport and has been a key contributor on her road to varsity.

“It’s probably been maybe as far back as 10 years she’s been playing volleyball, and I’ve been offering her advice and practice,” said Mike McDermott.

One of the best parts of the coach and parent dynamic for Mike McDermott is seeing Casey McDermott excel on the court. Whether it’s her skills such as a hard serve that turns into an ace or her competitive attitude.

“I’m always so proud that when she’s in the game, whether we’re losing or winning, when there’s a tough point that needs to be won, she is right there and not withering or backing away from it,” said Mike McDermott.

An aspect of the athlete-daughter dynamic that Casey McDermott enjoys is that it’s easier to get coaching when you live under the same roof as your coach.

“I’d say it’s positive having the feedback and knowledge of my dad to help me 24/7,” she said.

Being able to coach his daughter is something that Mike McDermott loves. However, even though Casey McDermott is now the third of his children that he has coached, there are still a lot of challenges that come along with coaching a family member.

“It’s one of the hardest things, because it’s your daughter and you want to be able to treat her like your daughter, but also have to be impartial and not too hard on her,” he explained.

Separating sports from home is a constant battle for the McDermott family. Switching back and forth between coach and dad, or player and daughter is a relentless struggle they face together.

“I think that Casey sees me through that lens of a coach now, and so I think it’s sometimes hard to separate those two things. So now it’s my dad talking, now it’s my coach talking. That definitely has an effect,” commented Mike McDermott.

“I’d say we try to separate volleyball versus our family when we get home, but it’s kind of hard. It always just comes up at the dinner table, and it’s kind of just a lot of our conversation at home,” said Casey McDermott.

Despite all of the challenges and difficult aspects that come from the sports family dynamic, it’s a dynamic that the McDermotts overall view as a positive.

“Coaching my daughter is one of the hardest things I’ve done, but also one of the things that gives me the greatest joy,” concluded Mike McDermott, “because I get to see all of the growth that she makes and get to have a direct impact on it.”