January 8, 2025 • 4 mins
Coach John Shillito-Retiring from Zeeland West Football
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The stats are amazing. The service to the community is incredible.
Yesterday we learned that the only head football coach at
Zeeland West in their whole program history is stepping down.
John Schilitou, Zeeland West head football coach, retired on the
liveline with US on West Michigan's Morning News. Coach, thanks
for doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Ah my pleasure coaches.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I found out the news yesterday and I appreciate Jordan
Banster your ad. I know, I was one of his
first phone calls. I was like, Wow, good for John
going out on top. But let's go back to the
start of this season, your forty first season, and you
were so close a year ago. You lose the semi
finals to Forsteal Central and one of your counterparts, Tim Rodgers,
(00:42):
ends up retiring after they win the state jamship last year.
Did that have anything to do with your decision going
into this year as far as hey, I'm going to
retire and hang.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
It up after this is done, not really, Brett, you know,
I mean, this has been something we've thought about for
a while, and you know, forty one years is a
lot of years, and so you know that what didn't
really affect it You know, I think the getting that
close last year certainly motivated our kids and and kind
(01:16):
of gave us a picture.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of what could be.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
And so that made this year very special.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Five state championships. The only coach for Zealand West. He
was there when they split into two schools and so
about once every four years they expected a state championship
from John Gilto and the Ducks. But coach, I mean
comstock Park Orchard View successful there East Kentwood. I watched
you against Rockford, those great battles. As you went from
school to school, you've kind of adopted your own style,
(01:43):
but it goes back to your head to head matchups
with Irv Sigler, Balding and Orchid back in the day
when you kind of made a switch in your coaching
style to the wing te offense.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Right, Yeah, we did that in nineteen ninety four and
and you know, I would say I was a slightly
above five hunter coach before that, and uh, you know,
things have gone well since and and so it was
a really good fit for us, and and you know,
Irv was really generous after, you know, after we start
going to it, uh with his time a little bit
(02:13):
and learned a lot from him, and then you know,
kind of kind of adapted our own system.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
What is the toughest part or maybe even your favorite
part for coaching the wing t offense as you've done
it for so many years, Because I talked to your
peers and they say, John Schilteau is the best offensive
line coach I've seen at the high school level in
the state of Michigan.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I'm not line coach, you know, I think it's a
it's a fun offense to coach. Uh from the standpoint
of process being very important that that you when you
don't do quite as many things, you get more opportunity
to perfect.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Him in practice, I think a little bit. And so
I've always been kind.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Of a processed guy, really enjoyed practices, and I think
that was a big piece of how it fit together
for me.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
John also track and field coach from nineteen eighty six
till right up this last spring at Zealand and West
where he finished up. And I know forty one years
you've touched a lot of high school student athletes at
the four different schools. We talked about, what was that
your favorite part in doing what you've done now for
your career, you.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Know, I think I think twofold on that Brett. One
is relationship with the kids and you know, so many
over so many years. And then the other one that
has been really in both sports too, relationships with staff,
you know, and Greg Hogland's been my assistant for twenty
five years, and then in track at Zealand and Zealand
(03:43):
West working with Phil Hoover for all the years that
I've been there, and others many, many, many many other
staff members. But you know, it's kind of the combination
of staff and kids.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Hall of Famer John Schilatto announce his retirement from Zealand
West and from high school football, joined US Live. That
was yesterday afternoon, and Coach, this is just for my
co host and maybe the audience too, Smitty and Steve.
The reason that John and I think are so close
is because we share the same about hating technology and
pushing it off for so long. Tell them honestly in
(04:15):
the audience, when you got your first cell phone, boy.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
It's been about a year and a half. A year and.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
A half, you went that long.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
He held out way long than I did.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Coach, I love it, and congratulations, enjoy the retirement with
your wife and Also, he's Grandpa Shilato. Now so I
know you got the grandkids.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, yeah, that's a big part too.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Well done, John Chilaiteau, thank you so much for your
time this morning.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Coach. Thank you you guys have a good day.
The stats are amazing. The service to the community is incredible.
Yesterday we learned that the only head football coach at
Zeeland West in their whole program history is stepping down.
John Schilitou, Zeeland West head football coach, retired on the
liveline with US on West Michigan's Morning News. Coach, thanks
for doing this today.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Ah my pleasure coaches.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I found out the news yesterday and I appreciate Jordan
Banster your ad. I know, I was one of his
first phone calls. I was like, Wow, good for John
going out on top. But let's go back to the
start of this season, your forty first season, and you
were so close a year ago. You lose the semi
finals to Forsteal Central and one of your counterparts, Tim Rodgers,
(00:42):
ends up retiring after they win the state jamship last year.
Did that have anything to do with your decision going
into this year as far as hey, I'm going to
retire and hang.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
It up after this is done, not really, Brett, you know,
I mean, this has been something we've thought about for
a while, and you know, forty one years is a
lot of years, and so you know that what didn't
really affect it You know, I think the getting that
close last year certainly motivated our kids and and kind
(01:16):
of gave us a picture.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Of what could be.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
And so that made this year very special.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Five state championships. The only coach for Zealand West. He
was there when they split into two schools and so
about once every four years they expected a state championship
from John Gilto and the Ducks. But coach, I mean
comstock Park Orchard View successful there East Kentwood. I watched
you against Rockford, those great battles. As you went from
school to school, you've kind of adopted your own style,
(01:43):
but it goes back to your head to head matchups
with Irv Sigler, Balding and Orchid back in the day
when you kind of made a switch in your coaching
style to the wing te offense.
Speaker 4 (01:52):
Right, Yeah, we did that in nineteen ninety four and
and you know, I would say I was a slightly
above five hunter coach before that, and uh, you know,
things have gone well since and and so it was
a really good fit for us, and and you know,
Irv was really generous after, you know, after we start
going to it, uh with his time a little bit
(02:13):
and learned a lot from him, and then you know,
kind of kind of adapted our own system.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
What is the toughest part or maybe even your favorite
part for coaching the wing t offense as you've done
it for so many years, Because I talked to your
peers and they say, John Schilteau is the best offensive
line coach I've seen at the high school level in
the state of Michigan.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I'm not line coach, you know, I think it's a
it's a fun offense to coach. Uh from the standpoint
of process being very important that that you when you
don't do quite as many things, you get more opportunity
to perfect.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Him in practice, I think a little bit. And so
I've always been kind.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Of a processed guy, really enjoyed practices, and I think
that was a big piece of how it fit together
for me.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
John also track and field coach from nineteen eighty six
till right up this last spring at Zealand and West
where he finished up. And I know forty one years
you've touched a lot of high school student athletes at
the four different schools. We talked about, what was that
your favorite part in doing what you've done now for
your career, you.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Know, I think I think twofold on that Brett. One
is relationship with the kids and you know, so many
over so many years. And then the other one that
has been really in both sports too, relationships with staff,
you know, and Greg Hogland's been my assistant for twenty
five years, and then in track at Zealand and Zealand
(03:43):
West working with Phil Hoover for all the years that
I've been there, and others many, many, many many other
staff members. But you know, it's kind of the combination
of staff and kids.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Hall of Famer John Schilatto announce his retirement from Zealand
West and from high school football, joined US Live. That
was yesterday afternoon, and Coach, this is just for my
co host and maybe the audience too, Smitty and Steve.
The reason that John and I think are so close
is because we share the same about hating technology and
pushing it off for so long. Tell them honestly in
(04:15):
the audience, when you got your first cell phone, boy.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
It's been about a year and a half. A year and.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
A half, you went that long.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
He held out way long than I did.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Coach, I love it, and congratulations, enjoy the retirement with
your wife and Also, he's Grandpa Shilato. Now so I
know you got the grandkids.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, yeah, that's a big part too.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Well done, John Chilaiteau, thank you so much for your
time this morning.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Coach. Thank you you guys have a good day.
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