POSTED ON JULY 6, 2022 · POSTED IN ATHLETIC NEWS, GENERAL, NEWS, PRESS RELEASE
(Burbank, IL) St. Laurence High School is excited to welcome John Stelzer as the school’s newest Assistant Athletic Director.

Stelzer joins St. Laurence after retiring as Athletic Director of Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS), where he served in that role for 14 years and was an Assistant Athletic Director before that. At OPRFHS, Stelzer supported an education-based athletic philosophy that furthers the overall learning and development for students and provides coaches with the resources they need to help their student-athletes reach their potential. During his tenure, OPRFHS added both girls lacrosse and girls golf programs to its roster of athletic offerings. Stelzer also expanded the summer camp program to include 22 sports and over 2,000 participants annually. Prior to his work in secondary education, Stelzer worked for the U.S. Soccer Federation for 12 years and also served as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Loyola University-Chicago for 14 seasons.

“John is a well-respected AD who has proven success in running a highly competitive, education-based athletic program,” said St. Laurence Athletic Director Tim Chandler. “He aligns with the Gold STANDARD core values of our athletic department. John’s addition to the athletic department is not only a huge benefit to our student-athletes and coaches, but also to the rest of our athletic administrators, myself included, as we can learn from his vast experience in interscholastic athletics. John’s hiring further solidifies the value that St. Laurence places on using athletics as an extension of the classroom and the commitment to putting our coaches and student-athletes in the best position to succeed.”

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Stelzer graduated from St. Louis University High School, a Jesuit college preparatory school. He graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois where he was a four-year letterman and two-year captain for the men’s soccer team. Stelzer earned his MBA from Loyola University-Chicago and is the proud father of two daughters. He resides in Oak Park.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to join the St. Laurence family,” said Stelzer. “I truly look forward to working with Tim, the Athletic Department and the entire St. Laurence community in contributing to the proud tradition of Viking Athletics.”