Hall-of-Famer Filian ends run at Palatine
State champion boys, girls coach made impact in 34-year career
By Mike Garofola
It was only fitting that the first warm day of 2022 came when dozens of friends, family and alumni met in May to honor Palatine manager Willie Filian. The longtime coach retired after the 2021-22 school year with 34 years of work under his belt.
Filian, who was known to dress as if he was on Admiral Byrd's Antarctic exploration even when the temperature was above 50 degrees, made his final appearance at Chic Anderson Stadium on May 7 sans his usual heavy gear. He instead donned a lighter-weight, red Palatine jacket to greet the big crowd on hand prior to the Pirates regular-season finale and win against Mid-Suburban League foe Wheeling.
"I'm German but born in Brazil,” Filian said. “Unless it's warmer than 98.6 degrees outside, I am wearing no less than three layers.
"One of the nastiest spring games that I can recall was in 2011 with my daughter (then-senior Amanda), when we played Fremd on a Saturday morning when it was snowing and the wind chill had to be below 20 degrees," continued Filian.
"We lost that game 2-0. Afterward Amanda tells me 'Maybe we should not have played that game dad.’ And I remember my response was ‘Do think on a warmer day they would have beat us 5-0?’”
"For cold games, Willie has always bundled up wearing so many layers of jackets and hoodies. Even when it's hot out, he's out there in pants and hoodies," said former player and current Wheeling boys and girls coach Kevin Lennon. “(I've) seen him out running in 90-degree weather in pants and hoodies. He's crazy, but we love him just the same.”
With the 2022-23 school year nearly upon us, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge Filian, who was inducted into the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010, for his remarkable career. He influenced hundreds upon hundreds of student-athletes and hit the finish line with nearly 680 career victories as the manager of the boys and girls programs at Palatine.
Charlie Gries, Filian’s assistant coach and great friend of more than 30 years, and former players Lennon, Palatine heir apparent Aaron Morris and Leyden girls coach Jimmy Rosetti supplied endless funny stories of the man they respect and who has given so much to his profession and sport.
"He has made an impact on so many players at Palatine, and all around the area. I can only hope to have that kind of impact on my players and students," began Lennon, who starred for Filian in the mid-1990s. He has since done a masterful job at Wheeling and only recently took over the struggling girls program, which is slowly on the road to recovery.
Lennon moved the Palatine game from earlier on his schedule to the final weekend before the playoffs to be a part of the celebration of Filian's magnificent career.
"We made the game switch,” he said. “We struggled a little to put enough players together for this game, but with help from our JV team we got it together. This is a game that I feel is important for my girls to witness, because this is what high school sports and soccer is all about.
"My first club coach was Helmut Filian, Willie's uncle, and I was playing for the under-10 Pegasus team. (Willie) was playing for Northern Illinois and the Pegasus men’s team, along with Charlie (Gries), during the offseason.
"Sportsvision would carry some of the NIU games back then, and Helmut would assign us some homework when watching those games. I clearly remember watching Willie playing with his long, flowing mullet.
"When I started playing at Palatine, I was surprised to hear we had a coach with the last name of Filian.
"I walked to him to ask if he was related to Helmut, but the mullet gave him away. I quickly recognized that it was Willie."
One of several career claims to fame that Filian enjoys is one that has yet to be matched. The manager won back-to-back boys and girls state titles in the 1994-95 school year.
"Those two championship seasons were a real whirlwind,” Filian said. “It all happened so fast. (We) were still celebrating the boys fall title, and the next thing we knew, we we’re in the championship game for the girls. Both games, by the way, revolved around great teams from St. Charles, which had the premier boys and girls teams in the state.
"In the fall, St. Charles beat us rather easily 3-1 at our own Hogan Tournament, so I didn't really feel we had enough if we met them again. But they lost in a shootout to Granite City, who we later beat in the final (2-1 in overtime).
"Over on the girls side, we beat St. Charles in a semifinal shootout despite being outplayed."
Two areas of tactical genius that the teams of Filian and Gries have been incredibly successful in were dead balls and set pieces. The Pirates always have found players who can toss a throw-in a country mile and someone that can provide pin-point free kick service into the box.
"We've had some amazing talent and outstanding leaders on the student-athlete side. And all of us were smart enough to stay out of their way," laughed Filian.
"However, one thing we always insisted on from our teams was the final 20 minutes of training would always include work on set pieces.
"In the fall of 1994, set pieces became very important because all of the final (eight) teams at state struggled to score through the run of play due to massive rains that weekend that just tore up the grass fields.
"More than half of our goals came off set pieces directly, or indirectly, including the golden goal in overtime."
"The two (Suzanne Ternes championship game) goals for our '95 girls were on headers from long throws by Diane Markus. In the net, we were able to defend all of that type of play coming into the box because of two very special keepers -- Chris Jamal and Erin Ekeberg."
Over his career on the boys side, Filian highlighted Brian Doherty (1993) as his best all-around player and Mike Huber (1995) as his most prolific and dangerous scorer. As the top female players, he listed Carrie Nelson (1994) and Katie Shager (1996) alongside Markus (1995), whom Filian said was likely the strongest leader he has managed because she demanded so much of her herself and her teammates.
Palatine soccer was a family affair for Filian. The coach had the good fortune of having all six of his children play for him.
"I did my best to treat them like everyone else,” Filian said. “Maybe I was a little bit harder on them than their teammates, but I let them know from the start that's the way it was going to be.
"I am so very proud of the time, effort and dedication each of my kids gave to the sport, but I am most proud of their academic achievements along the way."
Megan (35) is a NIU graduate. Willie Jr. (30) graduated from Indiana University, where he played four years of club.
Amanda (29) and Mackenzie (23) had mirrored careers at Miami (Ohio). Each played one season before finishing up with three campaigns of club ball.
Kevin (21) is a recent grad of Loras College, where he played all four years. His twin sister Kacie played four years at St. Bonaventure and has eligibility to continue playing at Johns Hopkins, which she will attend for grad school.
Every student who played at Palatine benefitted from Filian’s leadership.
"I've coached at Palatine for 29 years, the last 20 as Willie's assistant,” said Gries.
“One of several things which sum up what he's meant to the program, and in a sport in which he believes, is the motto “Work hard, be humble and team first.
"He tries to instill these values in our players in order to help them throughout their lives. He's a teacher at heart, and it shows at every training session or game.
"He's all about the kids, and I cannot ever remember him taking credit for the success we've had here. Team first is a life lesson for all of the players who have come through the program."
Filian has seen a lot over his career. There is one thing he has not witnessed, however.
"(Willie) has never seen a Palatine player take a penalty kick,”Gries said
"It's a superstition of his. I sit, or pace, next to him, giving him the play-by-play. Even during those great, long playoff runs that we had, he never watched nor picked the shooters.
"I also remember a regional final where the referee called a PK against us. Willie raced to the other end of the field to protest, (past) the other bench before we had coaching boxes.
"He, of course, gets a yellow card. When he comes back to our bench he tells me 'Next time I do that, remind me to stretch first.’”
Filian has enjoyed having his running mate beside him.
"Charlie has been an absolute godsend,” he said. “He's a great partner, an unbelievable friend. He has a great mind for the game and has helped me get through the good and bad times.”
Gries is also a de facto member of the Filian clan: he is Kacie’s godfather.
Memories are in abundance when it comes to Filian and Palatine.
"My mother taught many of Willie's kids in first grade,” said Lennon. “He's like family to us. (He's) the reason I wanted to become a teacher and a coach.
"He impacted so many soccer players at Palatine and in the area. It was like a rite of passage to play for him.
"Many of my friends were excited to have their kids play for Willie. In that last (boys) game back in the fall (of 2021), a former player shared some advice Willie had passed along: ‘Always make a place better than it was when you got there.’”
Rossetti, who starred under Filian from 1998-2000 and now coaches Leyden soccer and wrestling, recounted when Mackenzie was born on a game day. Filian left the hospital in time to manager his club.
"(Willie) said he couldn't stay away. His dedication to the team, staff and program is unmatched," said Rossetti.
"(When) he strapped on his boots to train with us, he showed all of us he still could play. He had no problem making even our best players look foolish.
"Willie inspired in so many ways. For me, the greatest lesson he imparted was his demeanor and his actions -- riding out the highs and the lows, staying calm and always reassuring.
Morris, who has been a longtime assistant at Palatine, was chosen to take the reins from Filian.
"Willie is a legend. I cannot focus on that, because I'll never be ‘coach,’ said Morris, who was a terrific outside-back for Filian from 2001-2003.
"It will be difficult not seeing Willie every day, but I know he will be there for me whenever I need him.
"He taught me the simplicity of the game and the importance of the entire team playing high-pressure soccer, with the dead ball part of the game being such a huge influence on the game and eventual outcome.
"People always wanted to be around Willie. His personality brings out the best in everyone."
Filian became a legendary manager because of his incredible soccer IQ and ability to understand the nuances of the high school game.
"I learned a lot from the late Chris Norton, who was manager before me,” Filian said. “He stressed the proper way to treat and respect young athletes, and how to maximize their performance.
"My first assistant, Dave Hart, was instrumental in the system we have played over the years. Kevin Lennon was one of my first true leaders and captains in the 90s, and is a godfather to one of my kids. And I cannot say enough about Charlie.
"Last but not least, my wife Lorrie was a key figure to make it all work for me and our family by planning, organizing, arranging and giving up countless hours of sleep so I could chase my dream, supporting all of it for 32 years.
"I have truly been fortunate and blessed."
State champion boys, girls coach made impact in 34-year career
By Mike Garofola
It was only fitting that the first warm day of 2022 came when dozens of friends, family and alumni met in May to honor Palatine manager Willie Filian. The longtime coach retired after the 2021-22 school year with 34 years of work under his belt.
Filian, who was known to dress as if he was on Admiral Byrd's Antarctic exploration even when the temperature was above 50 degrees, made his final appearance at Chic Anderson Stadium on May 7 sans his usual heavy gear. He instead donned a lighter-weight, red Palatine jacket to greet the big crowd on hand prior to the Pirates regular-season finale and win against Mid-Suburban League foe Wheeling.
"I'm German but born in Brazil,” Filian said. “Unless it's warmer than 98.6 degrees outside, I am wearing no less than three layers.
"One of the nastiest spring games that I can recall was in 2011 with my daughter (then-senior Amanda), when we played Fremd on a Saturday morning when it was snowing and the wind chill had to be below 20 degrees," continued Filian.
"We lost that game 2-0. Afterward Amanda tells me 'Maybe we should not have played that game dad.’ And I remember my response was ‘Do think on a warmer day they would have beat us 5-0?’”
"For cold games, Willie has always bundled up wearing so many layers of jackets and hoodies. Even when it's hot out, he's out there in pants and hoodies," said former player and current Wheeling boys and girls coach Kevin Lennon. “(I've) seen him out running in 90-degree weather in pants and hoodies. He's crazy, but we love him just the same.”
With the 2022-23 school year nearly upon us, it’s the perfect time to acknowledge Filian, who was inducted into the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010, for his remarkable career. He influenced hundreds upon hundreds of student-athletes and hit the finish line with nearly 680 career victories as the manager of the boys and girls programs at Palatine.
Charlie Gries, Filian’s assistant coach and great friend of more than 30 years, and former players Lennon, Palatine heir apparent Aaron Morris and Leyden girls coach Jimmy Rosetti supplied endless funny stories of the man they respect and who has given so much to his profession and sport.
"He has made an impact on so many players at Palatine, and all around the area. I can only hope to have that kind of impact on my players and students," began Lennon, who starred for Filian in the mid-1990s. He has since done a masterful job at Wheeling and only recently took over the struggling girls program, which is slowly on the road to recovery.
Lennon moved the Palatine game from earlier on his schedule to the final weekend before the playoffs to be a part of the celebration of Filian's magnificent career.
"We made the game switch,” he said. “We struggled a little to put enough players together for this game, but with help from our JV team we got it together. This is a game that I feel is important for my girls to witness, because this is what high school sports and soccer is all about.
"My first club coach was Helmut Filian, Willie's uncle, and I was playing for the under-10 Pegasus team. (Willie) was playing for Northern Illinois and the Pegasus men’s team, along with Charlie (Gries), during the offseason.
"Sportsvision would carry some of the NIU games back then, and Helmut would assign us some homework when watching those games. I clearly remember watching Willie playing with his long, flowing mullet.
"When I started playing at Palatine, I was surprised to hear we had a coach with the last name of Filian.
"I walked to him to ask if he was related to Helmut, but the mullet gave him away. I quickly recognized that it was Willie."
One of several career claims to fame that Filian enjoys is one that has yet to be matched. The manager won back-to-back boys and girls state titles in the 1994-95 school year.
"Those two championship seasons were a real whirlwind,” Filian said. “It all happened so fast. (We) were still celebrating the boys fall title, and the next thing we knew, we we’re in the championship game for the girls. Both games, by the way, revolved around great teams from St. Charles, which had the premier boys and girls teams in the state.
"In the fall, St. Charles beat us rather easily 3-1 at our own Hogan Tournament, so I didn't really feel we had enough if we met them again. But they lost in a shootout to Granite City, who we later beat in the final (2-1 in overtime).
"Over on the girls side, we beat St. Charles in a semifinal shootout despite being outplayed."
Two areas of tactical genius that the teams of Filian and Gries have been incredibly successful in were dead balls and set pieces. The Pirates always have found players who can toss a throw-in a country mile and someone that can provide pin-point free kick service into the box.
"We've had some amazing talent and outstanding leaders on the student-athlete side. And all of us were smart enough to stay out of their way," laughed Filian.
"However, one thing we always insisted on from our teams was the final 20 minutes of training would always include work on set pieces.
"In the fall of 1994, set pieces became very important because all of the final (eight) teams at state struggled to score through the run of play due to massive rains that weekend that just tore up the grass fields.
"More than half of our goals came off set pieces directly, or indirectly, including the golden goal in overtime."
"The two (Suzanne Ternes championship game) goals for our '95 girls were on headers from long throws by Diane Markus. In the net, we were able to defend all of that type of play coming into the box because of two very special keepers -- Chris Jamal and Erin Ekeberg."
Over his career on the boys side, Filian highlighted Brian Doherty (1993) as his best all-around player and Mike Huber (1995) as his most prolific and dangerous scorer. As the top female players, he listed Carrie Nelson (1994) and Katie Shager (1996) alongside Markus (1995), whom Filian said was likely the strongest leader he has managed because she demanded so much of her herself and her teammates.
Palatine soccer was a family affair for Filian. The coach had the good fortune of having all six of his children play for him.
"I did my best to treat them like everyone else,” Filian said. “Maybe I was a little bit harder on them than their teammates, but I let them know from the start that's the way it was going to be.
"I am so very proud of the time, effort and dedication each of my kids gave to the sport, but I am most proud of their academic achievements along the way."
Megan (35) is a NIU graduate. Willie Jr. (30) graduated from Indiana University, where he played four years of club.
Amanda (29) and Mackenzie (23) had mirrored careers at Miami (Ohio). Each played one season before finishing up with three campaigns of club ball.
Kevin (21) is a recent grad of Loras College, where he played all four years. His twin sister Kacie played four years at St. Bonaventure and has eligibility to continue playing at Johns Hopkins, which she will attend for grad school.
Every student who played at Palatine benefitted from Filian’s leadership.
"I've coached at Palatine for 29 years, the last 20 as Willie's assistant,” said Gries.
“One of several things which sum up what he's meant to the program, and in a sport in which he believes, is the motto “Work hard, be humble and team first.
"He tries to instill these values in our players in order to help them throughout their lives. He's a teacher at heart, and it shows at every training session or game.
"He's all about the kids, and I cannot ever remember him taking credit for the success we've had here. Team first is a life lesson for all of the players who have come through the program."
Filian has seen a lot over his career. There is one thing he has not witnessed, however.
"(Willie) has never seen a Palatine player take a penalty kick,”Gries said
"It's a superstition of his. I sit, or pace, next to him, giving him the play-by-play. Even during those great, long playoff runs that we had, he never watched nor picked the shooters.
"I also remember a regional final where the referee called a PK against us. Willie raced to the other end of the field to protest, (past) the other bench before we had coaching boxes.
"He, of course, gets a yellow card. When he comes back to our bench he tells me 'Next time I do that, remind me to stretch first.’”
Filian has enjoyed having his running mate beside him.
"Charlie has been an absolute godsend,” he said. “He's a great partner, an unbelievable friend. He has a great mind for the game and has helped me get through the good and bad times.”
Gries is also a de facto member of the Filian clan: he is Kacie’s godfather.
Memories are in abundance when it comes to Filian and Palatine.
"My mother taught many of Willie's kids in first grade,” said Lennon. “He's like family to us. (He's) the reason I wanted to become a teacher and a coach.
"He impacted so many soccer players at Palatine and in the area. It was like a rite of passage to play for him.
"Many of my friends were excited to have their kids play for Willie. In that last (boys) game back in the fall (of 2021), a former player shared some advice Willie had passed along: ‘Always make a place better than it was when you got there.’”
Rossetti, who starred under Filian from 1998-2000 and now coaches Leyden soccer and wrestling, recounted when Mackenzie was born on a game day. Filian left the hospital in time to manager his club.
"(Willie) said he couldn't stay away. His dedication to the team, staff and program is unmatched," said Rossetti.
"(When) he strapped on his boots to train with us, he showed all of us he still could play. He had no problem making even our best players look foolish.
"Willie inspired in so many ways. For me, the greatest lesson he imparted was his demeanor and his actions -- riding out the highs and the lows, staying calm and always reassuring.
Morris, who has been a longtime assistant at Palatine, was chosen to take the reins from Filian.
"Willie is a legend. I cannot focus on that, because I'll never be ‘coach,’ said Morris, who was a terrific outside-back for Filian from 2001-2003.
"It will be difficult not seeing Willie every day, but I know he will be there for me whenever I need him.
"He taught me the simplicity of the game and the importance of the entire team playing high-pressure soccer, with the dead ball part of the game being such a huge influence on the game and eventual outcome.
"People always wanted to be around Willie. His personality brings out the best in everyone."
Filian became a legendary manager because of his incredible soccer IQ and ability to understand the nuances of the high school game.
"I learned a lot from the late Chris Norton, who was manager before me,” Filian said. “He stressed the proper way to treat and respect young athletes, and how to maximize their performance.
"My first assistant, Dave Hart, was instrumental in the system we have played over the years. Kevin Lennon was one of my first true leaders and captains in the 90s, and is a godfather to one of my kids. And I cannot say enough about Charlie.
"Last but not least, my wife Lorrie was a key figure to make it all work for me and our family by planning, organizing, arranging and giving up countless hours of sleep so I could chase my dream, supporting all of it for 32 years.
"I have truly been fortunate and blessed."