Troy Parola is entering his 33rd year of being a teacher, coach and athletic director. Parola has been Mundelein’s athletic director for nine years. This is Parola’s last year.
“I was a teacher for seven years and the Head Boys Track coach as well as a Football Coach and Wrestling Coach here at MHS from 1998-2005,” said Parola.
Some of Parola’s favorite things about being the athletic director was being able to see students grow in school and out of school. He loved seeing kids find joy in a sport while maintaining good grades in school.
Parola will miss engaging in his students and witnessing their growth. However, he is excited for this new chapter of his life.
He is excited “to see the school continue to grow and experience success in our programs. In our sports programs our participation numbers are growing and we are able to field levels in all sports that we offer in the North Suburban Conference. I love seeing our students finding their ‘AND.’ There is something for everyone here at MHS.” Parola said.
Before Parola retires, he hopes that students will continue to make the most out of their high school experiences.
Parola added, “To find your ‘AND’ learn that being a part of a team and participating in sports will help make each individual who they are and will be. Being part of a team is special, it teaches you about ‘family’and you learn to work through the ups and downs along the way. I truly hope that our student athletes can have the seven core values become part of who the student athletes are/become in life.”
Parola recalled some of his favorite memories here at MHS. Parola shared, “There have been so many special moments as an Athletic Director at Mundelein.”
Specifically, Parola said, “I would say the Boys Basketball Season from 2019-2020 stands out. Mundelein had a team full of juniors and was heading to the IHSA Sectional Championship Game with a 30-4 overall record when the pandemic hit and shut everything down. The team was going to play Stevenson for the third time in the Sectional Final at Prospect. Everyone was looking forward to this game as it was going to be a third match up of well matched teams. Just a couple of weeks before fans were treated to a sold out thriller that came down to the last second at MHS.”
Parola described how difficult it was to witness how the pandemic affected sports. He said, “It is unfortunate that the season ended the way it did. Unfortunately the pandemic took the next year of sports from everyone. The pandemic just stole so much from everyone. I feel for all students that had to live through that, I hope no one has to go through that ever again.”
Parola added, “Navigat[ing] through [COVID] as an Athletic Director and seeing how it affected kids and families was hands down the most difficult challenge.”
Merry Quinn • Oct 29, 2024 at 9:49 am
Loved working with you at Lakes, Troy! You will be sincerely missed at MHS but you certainly deserve it!