Team Officials, Coaches, and Staff Members

• John Dorn President John Dorn is a life-long southsider who has been involved in the soccer community for more than 20 years. The former head coach at Brother Rice High School (1994-1997) was one of the two founding members of the Chicago Fire Premier (dba Chicago Fire Reserves 2001 thru 2004). While coaching on the prep level John was the director of the IHSCCA High School Boys All-Star Game for 1995-1997. John earned his USSF coaching "A" license in 1994 and NSCAA coaching diploma also and has been a member of the coaching staff for the Illinois State Soccer Association and Prairie State Games. Dorn was named a volunteer assistant at Loyola University in 1997 assisting veteran head coach Ray O'Connell. John was later named as the Director of Soccer Operations and Head Women's Coach Moraine Valley C.C. for 1998-99. John has overseen the operations of the Chicago Fire Premier since its inception in 2001 along with General Manager Mark Boyle. John is primarily responsible for the administrative duties for the CFP, while GM Mark Boyle works more directly with the Chicago Gaels. He was named as one of the 100 Most Important People in the Chicago soccer community during the 1990s as published in the Daily Southtown newspapers in 2000. He was an assistant head coach at Brother Rice High School from 1993 through 1996. John has been the executive director of the Southwest Catholic League Soccer programs that has grown from 33 teams in 1994 to more than 235 teams in 2006. The 1990 University of Illinois grad. has been a member of the Chicago Board of Trade for the past 10 years where he trades in the corn pit. In the business community John serves on several corporate boards of directors including a local community bank other business interests. John is single and lives in the Wrigleyville community on Chicago's northside.

  
  

• Mark Boyle General Manager Mark Boyle is responsible for the operation of the Chicago Gaels. The life-long southsider has been involved in the soccer community for the past 12 years. Mark is an attorney who has a successful practice in commodity law. He also serves as an administrative judge for the City of Chicago - Traffic Division. Founder of the Beverly Blackhawks Soccer Club Member of the Executive Board at CASL Former President of St. Barnabas Catholic Church Athletic Board and Soccer Coordinator Played soccer at Quigley South HS for three years on the varsity squad - Graduated in 1973. Graduate of Loyola University (BA in history) and Loyola Law School Former IHSA and college soccer referee Taught and coached football at Nazareth Academy and taught and coached at Marist High School in Chicago. He lives with his family in the Beverly community. Wife Donna, Mark Jr, (1980) graduate of West Point; Matt (1982) at University of Illinois; Bridget (1988) at Coastal Carolina. Marty (1991) at Mount Carmel HS in Chicago

  
  

• Mike Konicki Official Statistician - Media Relations Mike Krolicki is one three founding partners in the operation of the Chicago Fire Premier and the Chicago Gaels. He is the official statistician at all home matches for both teams and reports the final results to PDL league Offices.

  
  

• John Nikchevich Head Coach John Nikchevich in his first year as the head coach of the Chicago Gaels womens team lead the team to a 7-4-3 winning season. The goal for the 07 season will be to win the region and move into the playoffs. John has been involved with club soccer in the Chicago area for many years. He was worked for two of the best clubs in the country the Sockers and Eclipse. He has also recently taken over the College Prep program for the Hawks Soccer Club. John sees and coaches the game with his own style. It is an aggressive style of soccer letting the players use their skill and talent. His coaching and teaching style creates an exciting game to play and watch.

  
  

• Josh Lenarz Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Josh has come off his best year at Trinity Christian. The Trolls under Josh's leadership captured the NCCAA National Women's Championship. The Gaels would like to Congratulate Trinity Christian and Josh. Josh is the head coach of the Trolls at Trinity Christian and is also starting his second year with the Gaels. Coach Lenarz is a 1998 graduate of Trinity Christian College with a degree in physical education. He was a four-year all-conference soccer player and NCCAA All-American three years. As a coach he has a USSF National Coaching License. He served as the assistant coach for the men's team for four seasons and as the varsity girls coach at Timothy Christian High School for two

  
  

• Steve DeCou Assistant Coach Steve DeCou is the assistant coach for the Chicago Fire Premier. This is his first season on the Mike Matkovich staff. Meanwhile DeCou has directed the Trinity Chirstian University men's soccer program for the past two seasons. In the first season he took the team to a 6-10-2 overall record. In 2005 the Trolls finished 13-8-2 overall and 4-4 (tied for fourth place) in the conference. They also captured the NCCAA North Central Region title and advanced to the NCCAA National Championships. DeCou was named the CCAC Coach of the Year. DeCou is a 1995 graduate of Tennessee Temple University with a degree in physical education. He has also completed his master's degree in sports medicine at the United States Sports Academy (AL). During his college playing days he was a four-year starter, earning all-district and all-conference honors. After college he played for two seasons for the Chattanooga Express as well as entered the coaching realm. Prior to coming to Trinity he spent four seasons at Huntington University (IN). His coaching credentials also include a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, a NSCAA Level I Goalkeeping Diploma, and an USSF B Coaching License. DeCou teaches in the College's physical education department and serves as the assistant athletics trainer. He and his wife, Amy, reside in Crestwood, IL.

  
  

• Ed Kozak Stadium Announcer Ed Kozak is starting his fourth year as the "voice of the Chicago Fire Premier". He is a veteran public address announcer for more than 20 years across the Chicagoland community. In his other professional career Ed is the Director of Alumni Programs at St. Laurence HIgh School (in Burbank, IL). He resides in suburban Alsip.

  
  

• Alvin Washington Webcasting and TV Announcer Alvin Washington is a veteran of radio and TV across the Chicago community. He has done the radio webcasting and TV play-by-play for the past 5 years for the Fire Premier. He is also the founding director of the wildly popular ISNET -- which webcasts hundreds of Chicagoland area prep events each and every year. Alvin is also the official stadium announcer for the Chicago High School Prep League for nearly all sports --- but especilaly football and basketball. Washington is production coordinating producer for the Illinois College of Broadcasting. Alvin lives and works on the south side of Chicago.

  
  

• Tom Bonen Web editor Tom is a veteran sportswriter and sports-broadcaster across the Chicagoland area and Midwest. His was formerly the soccer columnist for the Daily Southtown newspapers and has written for scores of Internet magazines and print magazines during the past 15 years. Tom has been one fo the key TV broadcasters for Comcast Prep Sports for the past 12 years. He regularly appears as the color analyst and play-by-play announcer for a wide variety of sports events. He has been actively involved in the soccer community across Chicago for the past 12 years. He founded the Southwest Soccer Club which provided the roots for several area soccer clubs that still operate today. Tom has broadcast many of the national soccer championships which have included the Chicago Magic, Chicago Sockers, and Windy City Pride. Tom is a member of the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame and was an All-American outfielder during the1970s and a member of the 1974 and 1975 National Championship teams. He is also a member of the Valparaiso University Hall of Fame ( inducted in 2006) for his achievements during his varsity baseball career (1967-69). Tom graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA in accounting and earned his MBA from Northwestern University in Evanston. Tom and his wife, Dr. Denise Bonen, live in the Morgan Park community in Chicago with their three kids (Kelly, Ryan, and Tim).