The Chicago Tribune is reporting that legendary Mt. Carmel Caravan head coach Frank Lenti is no longer the school’s head football coach. Lenti, who won a state record 374 games in 34 years along with 11 state titles, will be replaced by his former quarterback Jordan Lynch, who went-on to star in college at Northern Illinois.
The Tribune’s story states that there are two sides to Lenti’s departure with school officials describing the departure as mutual and Lenti releasing a statement saying it was the school’s decision.
Below is Lenti’s statement that he emailed to the Trib:
“While I had hoped to honor the commitment I had given the Mount Carmel football student-athletes and families that I would coach them thru (sic) their time at Mount Carmel, the administration has decided otherwise. Contrary to what some may have heard, I am not retiring. I love coaching high school football and may pursue that at some point in the future. I will honor my commitment to Mount Carmel and will resume my daily duties in the Development Department for the time being.”
This past season, the Caravan, finished 9-4, advancing to the Class 7A state semifinals where they lost to state runner-up Lake Zurich. MC was ranked No. 6 in the High School Football America Illlinois Top 10 at the time of its loss to Lake Zurich.
Lenti was 11-5 in state championship games.
Lynch, who set several NCAA passing and rushing records during his career at NIU, finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2012 and third in 2013. He played two years in the Canadian Football League where he scored the Grey Cup-winning touchdown in 2015 for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Below you can see Lynch in action with video I shot during the 2007 season-opener against Joliet Catholic.
