York High Names New Football Coach

ELMHURST, IL – York High School named a new head coach for its football program Friday.

Don Gelsomino, who joined the coaching staff in 2019, is taking the reins.

He is replacing coach Michael Fitzgerald, who has led the program for six years. Fitzgerald was named in January as the head football coach for Marist High School in Chicago.

Rob Wagner, York's assistant principal for athletics, said Gelsomino has been an integral part of the coach staff.

"I know how much it means to him, both as an Elmhurst resident and current coach, to take the lead this year," Wagner said in a York news release.

In 2020, Gelsomino was named defensive coordinator. Under his leadership over the last four years, the school said, the team's record was 35-7, with 14 points allowed and 219 yards conceded per game.

Gelsomino has seen three inside linebackers named conference Defensive Player of the Year or Co-defensive Player of the Year.

"I could not be more grateful to Coach Fitzgerald for hiring me and trusting me as his defensive coordinator. The community support at every game has created one of the most exciting atmospheres in high school football," Gelsomino said in the release.

Before York, Gelsomino was head coach at Ridgewood High School in Norridge from 2016 to 2018. There, he led Ridgewood to two conference championships and two playoff appearances, according to York's news release.

After college in 2008, Gelsomino's coaching career started at Fenwick High School, a Catholic school in Oak Park. He was credited with contributing to Fenwick's Prep Bowl Championship.

He has 13 years of experience teaching biology, chemistry and physics, including serving as department chair at St. Patrick High School in Chicago.

He played football at Augustana College in Rock Island at Holy Cross High School.

Gelsomino is a two-cancer survivor, according to the news release. His wife, Brittany, is a York alum.