VARSITY FOOTBALL STAFF

MR. MIKE PICKETT (RUNNING BACKS)(OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

Department of Social Studies: Hobart High School

Coach Pickett is a graduate of Lowell High School where he was an All State Football player and a member of the Indiana All Star team. Coach Pickett played college football for four years at Ball State University where he was a 4 year starter at running back. Coach Pickett came to Hobart High School after serving as the Offensive Coordinator at Chesterton High School for 4 years. Coach "Pick" has been with the Brickies for 5 years. He and his wife Tracy live in Portage,with their sons Alex (4) and Max (6 months).

MR. DAVE GRABCZAK (LINEBACKERS)(DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

At-risk Coordinator: Hobart Middle School

Coach Grabczak is a graduate of Hobart High School where he was an All State linebacker while playing on 2 State Championship teams. Coach Grabczak played college football at Harper Junior College in Illinois where he was a standout middle linebacker. Coach "Grabber" has spent his entire coaching career at his alma mater, working his way up the coaching ladder from the Middle School to his current position as Defensive Coordinator. Coach Grabczak resides in Hobart. "Once a Brickie, Always a Brickie".

MR. TOM KERR (DEFENSIVE LINEMAN)

Retired Educator

Coach Kerr is a graduate of Hobart High School where he was an All State football player. A member of the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, Coach Kerr played college football at the University of Michigan. Coach Kerr served as Defensive Coordinator during the "Glory Years" of Hobart Football under the leadership of fellow Hall of Famer Don Howell. Together the lead the Brickies to unprecedented success culminated by winning 4 State Championships. Coach Kerr was inducted into the Hobart Football Hall of Fame on July 18, 2008. Coach Kerr and his wife Maryann reside in Hobart. Coach Kerr's grandson Cameron Spencer will be a Senior on the 2008 Brickies.

MR. JOHN TOLAND (OFFENSIVE LINEMAN)

Industrial Arts Department: Portage High School

Coach Toland is a graduate of Hobart High School where he played offensive line for Coach Don Howell. Coach Toland has been a varsity football coach at several Indiana High Schools and is a former Indiana High School Football Head Coach. Coach Toland joined the Brickie staff in 2007 as an Offensive Line Coach. Coach Toland lives in Valpo and teaches at Portage High School.

MR. JOHN VODE (DEFENSIVE BACKS)

President ProPlant Solutions, President Engineered Lubrication Systems

Coach Vode is a 1987 Hobart Graduate. He was part of the 1984 and 1985 State Runner-Up teams under Coach Don Howell. He went to Indiana State University and played for Alvin Reynolds, the current DB's Coach for the Atlanta Falcons and 10 year NFL veteran Vencie Glenn. Coach Vode studied Mechanical Engineering at Indiana State University and Purdue University Calumet. He later received Master Certification as a Project Management Professional from Villanova University. Coach Vode has coached at Chesterton High School for the past 4 years. Coach Vode resides in Chesterton with his wife Beatrice and his son Alex (11).

MR. BRETT GOINS (QUARTERBACKS)

Purdue University Calumet Technology Student

Coach Goins enters his 5th season with the Brickies. Coach Goins graduated from Andrean High School in 2002 were he played for former Brickie Jeff Karras, and current Hobart Head Coach Wally McCormack. Brett led the 59ers to the State Championship Game in both his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, Coach Goins was an all state selection and was a member of the Indiana North All Star Team. Coach Goins owns the 3A State Championhip Game record for pass completions (24). Coach Goins resides in Hobart.

MR. TEANCUM CLARK (RECEIVERS)

Department of Foreign Language Hobart High School

Coach Clark joins the School City of Hobart as a Spanish Teacher in 2008. Coach Clark grew up in a football household where his father was a Head Football Coach in Texas for over 20 years. Coach Clark has coached the receivers at Columbus North High School for the past 4 years. In that span the Bulldogs have played in 3 semi-states. Coach Clark and his wife Sara reside in Hobart with their sons Wyatt and Ashton.

MR. CRAIG OSIKA (OFFENSIVE LINEMAN)

Medical Rehabilitation Sales

Coach Osika is entering into his 3rd Season as Offensive Line Coach for the Brickies. Coach Osika is a 1998 Graduate of Hobart High School where he was an All State Football player, member of the North All Star Team, and a track standout. Coach Osika started at Indiana University and played professionally for the Cleveland Browns before injuries cut short a promising career. Coach Osika and his wife Stephanie (nee Balash) reside in Valpo.

FRESHMEN FOOTBALL STAFF

MR. STEVE BALASH

(HEAD COACH)

Department of Physical Education: Hobart High School

Coach Balash is a graduate of Hobart High School where he was a standout multi-sport athlete and Hobart's first Indiana North All Star Team member in 1968. Coach Balash played football at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, before he joined the School City of Hobart. Coach Balash is considered the "hardest working man" in Hobart, for he coached three varsity sports for 30 consecutive years. In 2008 Coach Balash was accepted to, and will be inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame as a player. Coach Balash is the Head Wrestling Coach at Hobart High School and a member of the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame. Coach and his wife Jeannie reside in Hobart.

MR. CHRIS BARRAS

(OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

City of Hammond: Firefighter

Coach Barras is a transplant to Northwest Indiana and the Region. Coach Barras grew up in Colorado and came to Hobart after serving in the United States Air Force. Coach Barras has been involved with the Hobart Little League and Managed the 2003 Jr. League All Stars that advanced to the Junior League World Series after winning the Indiana State Championship. Coach Barras was also the Director of Coaching Development with the Hobart Pop Warner and joined the Brickie staff in 2007. Coach Barras and his wife Jennifer reside in Hobart and have two sons Matt (17) and Andrew (12).

MR. LOU GRUGEL

(DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR)

Indiana University Education Student

Coach Grugel joins the Brickie Staff in 2008. Coach Grugel is a 2005 graduate of Andrean High School where he played for Coach McCormack. Coach Grugel was a three year starter for the Niners and played in two State Championship games. His senior season Coach Grugel was a First Team All State Selection. Coach Grugel has coached at Bloomington North for the past two season and resides in St. John with his family.

MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL STAFF

MR. DREW MARTIN

(HEAD 8TH GRADE COACH)

Department of Mathematics: Hobart High School

Coach Martin is a graduate of Lockport High School in Illinois and Purdue University. Coach Martin has been instrumental in creating a pre-engineering program at Hobart High School called "Project Lead the Way". Coach Martin is a jack-of-all-trades at Hobart High School assisting in several sports programs. He is the Hobart Football Video Coordinator and is responsible for Scouting and Quality Control in football. Coach Martin is the Varsity Assistant Baseball coach at Hobart High School and has been with the football program for over a decade. He and his wife Kathy (Hobart Elementary School Teacher) reside in Hobart with their daughter Melanie, and son Andrew (Ball State).

MR. BOB GLOVER JR.

(HEAD 7TH GRADE COACH)

Department of Social Studies: Hobart Middle School

Coach Glover is a graduate of Hobart High School where he played both baseball and basketball. He attended Ball State University where he earned a degree in Social Studies and was hired in 2006 to teach History. Coach Glover's father, Bob Sr. is the athletic director at Hobart High School and his brother Greg is a member of the Brickie Football Team. Coach Glover is the Junior Varsity Baseball coach at Hobart High School. He resides in Hobart.

MR. TIM KRIEG

(ASSISTANT COACH)

Education Student at Valporaiso University

Coach Krieg joined the staff at Hobart in 2007. Coach is a graduate of Hobart High School where he played football for Coach McCormack. Krieg was the starting center for the Brickies in both his junior and senior seasons. Coach Krieg was a Captain of the Brickies his Senior Year and helped the Brickies win the schools first ever Lake Athletic Conference Championship. Coach Krieg resides in Hobart with his family.

MR. JOSH MEHAY

(ASSISTANT COACH)

Department of Physical Education: Hobart Middle School

Coach Mehay joins the Brickie Staff for the first time in 2008. Coach Mehay is a graduate of Merrillville High School where he was a standout wrestler and football player for the Pirates. After accepting a football Scholarship to St. Joe University, where he would start for 3 years and be named Captain as a Senior, Coach Mehay coached and taught at Merrillville for 4 years. Coach Mehay resides in Merrillville.