Marian Catholic Hall of Fame coach Dave Mattio passes away

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Former Marian Catholic Hall of Fame head coach Dave Mattio died Wednesday morning after battling pancreatic cancer, according to a release on the Marian Catholic school website.

"Coach Mattio was passionate about the game of football and was even more passionate about the young players he was developing into young men," said Mike Romelli, a 2002 Marian Catholic graduate who played for Mattio and who is now the Plainfield East head football coach. "He was one of the most competitive people I have ever come across."

Mattio, who graduated from Marian Catholic in 1966, was the Spartans head football coach from 1976 to 2012. He posted a 251-141 record over 37 years, winning 64 percent of his games. Mattio won the Class 4A state title in 1993 and placed second in 5A in 1999. His teams went to the IHSA state playoff field 20 times. Mattio coached hundreds of players who went on to play in college, along with several NFL regulars such as Loyola Academy head coach John Holecek (Class of 1990), Mike Prior (1981), Rodney Harrison (1991) and current Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Dennis Kelly (2008).

Mattio was a member of several Halls of Fame including Marian Catholic, the East Suburban Catholic Conference and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. Marian Catholic's football field was renamed as Dave Mattio Field in 2013.

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