New head football coach Robbie Gould met with the press Thursday at Saint Viator High School, and the excitement was palpable. The former 11-year placekicker for the Bears and the franchise’s leading scorer, takes over after coaching the Rolling Meadows Mustangs last season.
Coach Robbie Gould answers questions from the press (photos courtesy of Saint Viator High School)
In describing his decision to come to the school, he highlighted the school’s strong alumni base, including some of his teammates with the Chicago Bears. One of the first names he mentioned was his former teammate and Arlington Heights native, Brett Basanez. The two played together briefly, from 2009-2010, but Basanez, who set multiple passing records while at Saint Viator and Northwestern before his pro career, said something memorable
“The first person (from Saint Viator) I ever met was Brett Basanez,” Gould said. “We became friends. I kind of heard about the school, learned about the school, and that was twentysomething years ago.”
He also fielded a recent phone call from another Saint Viator alum, Jarrett Payton, who graduated in 1999. Gould described knowing Payton through the media circuit but he also was received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2018, which recognizes NFL players for their service to the community.
“He wanted to connect with me about what it means to be a Lion and what it means to be a part of this program,” Coach Gould said.
Gould also mentioned that he relied on Mount Carmel Coach Jordan Lynch and Carmel Catholic High School Coach Jason McKie before taking the job, both of whom were teammates of his on the Bears. Ironically, Gould said that he had not yet met Cole Kmet, who graduated from Saint Viator in 2017 and now plays with the Bears, but he hopes to soon.
Mostly, Gould stressed the culture at Saint Viator and how it aligns with his own values of hard work, service and leadership.
“I just love a culture that’s here,” Gould said. “I love that everyone works collaboratively together for the greater good of the athletes and students in this school. And to me, being a high school football coach, it’s all about developing and being there for them on their journey.”
Coach Gould with Saint Viator President Ryan Aiello
Gould quipped that he’s still trying to wrap his head around the school’s tag line, “Once a Lion, always a Lion,” since as a longtime Bear he saw the Detroit Lions as one their biggest rivals.
“But I did go to Penn State and was a Nittany Lion,” he said, “so I’m looking forward to wearing navy blue again.”
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