LTHS Board names new head varsity football coach

Lyons Township High School named Jon Beutjer as the new Lions varsity football coach, replacing Dan Hartman who stepped down.

Beutjer has been an assistant football coach at LT since 2010 and also served as the offensive coordinator during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 seasons. He was a part of eight playoff appearances, including three trips to the quarterfinals. As the varsity quarterback coach, he helped develop three Division 1 quarterbacks (Ben Bryant - Cincinnati, Tom Fiedler - Northern Illinois, and Zach Mahoney - Syracuse).

Prior to coaching at LT, he was an assistant football coach at North Central College and part of the 2009 CCIW Conference Championship team. He played quarterback at University of Illinois, was part of the Big Ten Championship team in 2001 and led the Big Ten in passing in 2002. He is ranked in the top ten passing leaders of all time at U of I. He was a part of three state championship football teams at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School and helped lead his team to a 14-0 finish his senior year. He holds the IHSA state record for most touchdowns in a season (60 touchdowns, 1998).

Beutjer says, “I am truly blessed and honored to have the opportunity to be the head football coach at LT, build on past successes and lead the program forward. I care deeply about LT, the football program, the students, families, and community and hope to develop champions both on and off the field, as I believe the two go hand in hand.”

“Coach Beutjer has been a huge influence in our football program over the last decade,” said LT Athletic Director John Grundke. “He has great relationships with his players and will continue to help our players grow as football players, students and individuals. Coach Beutjer will bring his wealth of prior experiences and his offensive mind to take the program to new levels,” he added.

Beutjer added, “Executing the fundamentals of the game, while emphasizing character, sportsmanship, teamwork, and perseverance are all essential to winning football games. We will also stress the importance of focusing on academics, goal-setting, positive decision-making, and doing the right thing. These are life skills that the student-athletes will carry with them long after they hang up their cleats.”

Beutjer received a bachelor and master degrees in from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a PE Teaching Certification from North Central College.