Looking back on a career in which he excelled in high school at Marian Catholic, starred at the University of Illinois, played eight seasons in the NFL and became the most successful coach in Illinois high school history at Loyola Academy, John Holecek has never had a fooball experience comparable to his 2025 spring stint as the defensive coordinator for the Milano Seamen in the Italian Football League’s Division II.
“It was definitely an adventure, and it was fun,” said Holecek, who is returning as Loyola’s head coach this season after being semi-retired in 2023 and spending the past two years as an assistant coach for the Ramblers. “I loved it. They were very respectful and it was really nice to have players playing for themselves and their teammates rather than trying to get a scholarship or a pro career.”
Holecek was introduced to Italian football by Kris Haynes, a former Chicago Bear now working as the wide receiver coach for the Ramblers freshman team.
“Kris had gone over and done some clinics and asked if I wanted to do some,” remembered Holecek. “I did a couple. The second time Mike Singletary (the Hall of Fame linebacker who played for the Bears) was there.
“When the team in Milan heard I was (temporarily) retired I was contacted and asked if I wanted to be the defensive coordinator.”
Preseason preparations began in February, the regular season got underway in March and ended in June after the Seamen failed to make the playoffs. (This past season they won the Division II championship so the season extended into early July.)
“They only practiced two times a week, and one of the practices was the day before the game,” Holecek said. “Some guys traveled from out of town and might just make the practice before the game. If they practiced the way our high school teams do they’d be a lot better. For them, it’s a side thing, a hobby. In coaching I had to be basic and study our opponents. because they had to be basic too.
“Flag football is huge over there and there were a bunch of kids in their early 20s with flag experience. We also had a couple of old guys in their 40s, hanging on and doing it for the love of the game and the camaraderie. There was some size but more like high school size. We had a couple guys who were 300 pounds but they were a little out of shape.
“There were a few players who would have been All-Stars here—unbelievably talented potential major college players possibly sniffing the pros if they practiced the way we do—playing alongside young kids just learning.
“We had one guy about 33 years old who was probably the best player in the league. He started on the defensive line and I moved him to safety after an injury and he was awesome. Imagine a 6-3, 230-pound safety. He also was the defensive line coach, which wasn’t uncommon. There were a few player-coaches.”
One of Holecek’s Loyola outside linebackers, Holden Quinn, was spending the spring semester of his junior year of college studying in Milan at a nearby school so he joined his former coach to work with the linebackers
Holecek said communicating wasn’t a problem because most of the players spoke English and the smart ones would translate for the ones who didn’t, telling the defensive coordinator: “‘He didn’t study in school, coach.’”
There was, however, some culture shock.
“Many of the guys on the team smoked cigarettes during the practice breaks and after the game,” Holecek reminisced. “They also had espresso needs. It seemed as though the espresso machine was one of the most important things in their lives. You would have a break and see your cornerback and safety—both around 19 years old—drinking espresso and having a smoke. It was a very interesting facet of their culture.”
Holecek said his team finished with “about a .500 record—we didn’t start very well but then we came on and played pretty well at the end (laying the foundation for the 2026 championship season after his departure).”’
With only two practices and one game every week, Holecek had ample time to explore and make his time in Italy a rewarding educational and cultural experience.
“I traveled all over northern Italy, was in Switzerland a few times and went to London for a weekend,” he said. “I rented a one-bedroom apartment and my wife was there about half the time. We knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Two of my three sons came over for about 10 days each. I took one son to Lake Como and Venice and the other to Lake Como and Sardinia.
“The food was great. It was so fresh. I ate great and still lost weight.”
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