Dick Duval inducted into SJO Hall of Fame

SJO football coach Dick Duval
Dick Duval was one four individuals inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Hall of Fame at Friday's Homecoming game Bloominton Central Catholic. He is joined by Stan Harper, Kelly Duitsman Hunt and Keith Sjuts in the Class of 2021 inductees.

A well-deserved honor, Duval built a football dynasty that saw five IHSA football state championship games, six semi-finals playoff games, and the IHSA football quarter-finals 16 times. In addition to coaching and teaching math, Duval was also served as athletic director before his retirement.


Biography

Dick Duval attended Herscher High School. In high school, Dick was a member of National Honor Society. He was a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball, and football. He was the Captain of both the baseball team and football team. He was also President of the Letterman Club.

Coach Duval graduated from Illinois State University in 1978 where he majored in Mathematics, with a minor in Physical Education. After college, he taught for three years at Herscher Grade School and coached grade school basketball and high school football. He then taught for seven years in the Kankakee School District, where he coached three sports at the high school level: football, basketball, and baseball. During this time, he was also the defensive backs coach at Olivet Nazarene University.

In 1988, Coach Duval took a position at St. Joseph-Ogden High School as a math teacher and was both the head football and baseball coach. Coach Duval coached baseball at SJO for 16 years, winning more than 200 games during a time when schools played a lot fewer regular season games. At SJO, Coach Duval was the head football coach for 28 years from 1988-2015 and in that time, never had a losing season. In 1989, his second year as head football coach, he took the Spartans to his first state championship game.


Dick Duval and players talk to the media after the Spartans' 2013 state title game against Stillman Valley. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Before his career was over, SJO went to the playoffs 25 consecutive years, and made it to the IHSA football state championship game five times, the IHSA football semi-finals six times, and the IHSA football quarter-finals 16 times. His final record was 251 wins and 75 losses. During his career at SJO, Coach Duval earned a position as an assistant coach in the 1990 and 1998 Illinois football All-Star games. He was awarded the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week on October 9th, 2000. On April 5th, 2008, Coach Duval was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame where he was recognized for his ability to inspire his athletes to the highest in discipline and spirit.

Sara Ulbrich Greenstein, a member of the SJO Hall of Fame class of 2014 recently cited Dick Duval as one of her five influences that helped her become a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company.

After retiring from teaching and coaching, Dick Duval was the main scorekeeper for the SJO boys basketball team. He also was scorekeeper and announcer for many of the basketball tournaments hosted by SJO.

Surrounded by family members Lynda Duval holds a plaque with a photo of her late husband Dick who was inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame. Standing with Lynda are her daughter Bobbi and husband Cory Busboom and son, Kiel and his wife Katie, and three grandchildren. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

On August 20, 2021, the SJO football field was dedicated to Coach Duval and is now the Dick Duval Field.

Coach Duval fought a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, but passed away on August 26, 2021.

Dick is survived by his wife, Lynda, daughters Bobbi and Toni, son Kiel, their spouses and his four grandchildren.



* Biography provided courtesy of St. Joseph-Ogden High School
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Dick Duval, Illinois prep football coaching legend, dies after bout with cancer

With his wife Lynda at his side, former St. Joseph-Ogden football head coach Dick Duval holds a plaque above his head during the official ceremony naming the school's football field in his honor last Friday. Duval, 64, died on Thursday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Six days after attending a ceremony unveiling christening the St. Joseph-Ogden football field with his name, legendary Illinois high school football coach Dick Duval, 64, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Duval, who was hired back in 1988 to coach football at the high school, would go on to build a respected Class 3A powerhouse football program. Before he arrived in St. Joseph, the 1974 graduate from Herscher was a teacher and assistant coach at Kankakee High School. When he retired 28 years later, the SJO Hall of Fame and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame honoree massed a career record of 251 wins and 75 losses.

The Spartans, under his watch, never suffered sub-.500 season. After a 5-4 finish in his maiden season, Duval led the St. Joseph-Ogden to their first state football championship game in school history in 1989. As head coach, with the help of his dedicated staff of assistant coaches, he engineered a run of 25 consecutive Illinois High School Association playoff appearances and guided the Spartans to four other state title games in 1997, 1999, 2006, and 2013.

Dick Duval and Principal Mike MacKinzie celebrate SJO win
St. Joseph-Ogden principal Mike McKinzie and head football coach Dick Duval celebrate the Spartans' 22-21 Class 3A semifinal win over visiting Anna-Jonesboro. The victory punched SJO's ticket into the 2006 record-breaking championship game against Plano. (Photo: PhotoNews Media Archives)


Wearing his signature bucket hat, Duval announces the names of his players during the annual SJO Kickoff in 2007.
During the spring season for some 16 years, Duval, a well-liked math teacher by students, also served as head baseball coach where he accumulated 234 wins games, 165 losses along with three ties. He also did a stint as the athletic director and after his retirement from teaching could always be found at SJO athletic events running the scoreboard, stepping in as a game announcer, keeping stats, or supervising events when needed.

In his final season as head coach, Duval's Spartans finish with a 12-1 record, the Okaw Valley Conference title and advanced one step short of a sixth championship game appearance in Class 3A thanks in part to an early season blizzard during the state semifinals at Unity.

A remembrance and tribute ceremony for Duval is planned before tonight's football game between the Spartans and the visiting Monticello Sages at the field now bearing his name.

Duval receives a postgame congratulations from a grandchild after the Spartans' 2015 game against Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
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Photo Gallery | SJO defeats Monticello in Week 1 at Dick Duval Field

St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback Logan Smith dives into the end zone to score the first touchdown on Dick Duval Field's newly installed turf surface on Friday. Smith scored five times and three a 31-yard TD in the Spartans 40-14 win over visiting Monticello.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Tim Blackburn-Kelley hauls in a short pass during the first quarter of play against the Sages. The explosive sophomore running back finished the night with 38 yards on seven carries and hauled in three passes for 31 yards. Blackburn-Kelley and the Spartans travel to Hicks Field this Friday to face Illini Prairie Conference favorite Unity. The Rockets also won their season opener defeating Prairie Central at home, 27-12.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Monticello quarterback Luke Teschke, a senior, prepares throw the ball deep into SJO territory during the first quarter of their conference game. Teschke threw for 248 yards against the Spartans and ran collected 128 of the Sages' 177 yards rushing.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO student fans cheer after another Spartan first down during first quarter action.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Monticello's Jeremiah Wenke and Brandon Peters celebrate as teammate Raiden Colbert completes his 32-yard run through the St. Joseph-Ogden defense for a touchdown. The Sages would score their only other score in the third quarter on a 27-yard pass play.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden English teacher Ashton Harwood (center) works with student-journalists Maya Botts (left) and Grace Getty (right) on the sidelines during first half. In just one year's time, the high school's journalism program grew from 12 students during the previous academic year to nearly 50 students. Harwood said that after a long hiatus SJO's school newspaper resume publishing again this school year.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

A trio of St. Joseph-Ogden football fans share a laugh during a lull in second half action at Dick Duval Field.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Student fans cheer for the Spartans during the first half of the Illini Prairie Conference game.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartan quarterback Logan Smith rolls out of the pocket in the second quarter. Smith led SJO's offense with 102 yards rushing and threw for another 163 yards. With the speed and mobility of a seasoned tailback, four of the five senior's touchdowns on Friday came inside the red zone.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

A flag girl waits for the command to begin her routine during the SJO Marching Band's halftime show.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

A member of the SJO Marching Band plays rototoms during halftime.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Ray Gutierrez, Braxton Waller, Kodey McKinney, and Corbin Wells celebrate a recovered Monticello fumble.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Lightning illuminates the sky to the west of St. Joseph forcing officials to suspend the game until a small storm system passes through the area.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Kicker Joe Frasca kicks off to resume the game after a lightning delay in the third quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Die-hard SJO fans watch the game from under their umbrella after a nearly hour and half lightning delay.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartan fans endure a light rain during third quarter action.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

With his team up on the scoreboard, Spartan linebacker James Barron is all smiles in the fourth quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Sophomore running back Wyatt Wertz takes the ball in a handoff from SJO quarterback Kodey McKinney for a short gain during fourth quarter action. Wertz had four touches to finish with 26 yards rushing.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Following tradition, the entire Spartan football team sings the school song after their first victory on Dick Duval Field's new turf.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Stat girls from the St.Joseph-Ogden football team sing the school song after the game with the team and fans.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Spartan volleyball team to host scholarship fundraiser at October 5 home match

SJO head coach Abby McDonald shakes hands with an IHSA administrator before receiving her third-place medal at the IHSA Volleyball State Finals in 2019. The 13-year veteran coach and her volleyball program are raising funds for a new scholarship program to honor former educator and football coach Dick Duval. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team will host a fundraiser to create a scholarship fund in the name of former longtime head football coach Dick Duval at its October 5 home game against Monticello.

Duval, who built SJO into a respected Class 3A powerhouse football program, passed away on August 26. Not only was he a math teacher and the school's athletic director for many years, but was also a member of the SJO Hall of Fame and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His career coaching record is an impressive 251 wins against 75 losses during his tenure with the Spartans.

Head coach Abby McDonald, who took over the head coach position at SJO in 2008, believes in the importance of her players giving back and leads the varsity, JV, and freshman teams in administering projects to benefit someone or an organization in the community.

"At least once while they are in high school, I like our girls to do some sort of community service project at one of our matches - something to give back to the community because the community does some much for them and for us," McDonald said.

Last year, because of the state's Covid mitigation, the team did not have a project to work on. The program's last effort was a fundraiser for a fellow player who had cancer.

"Coach Duval is such a huge part of who I am as a coach but also a huge supporter of all SJO athletics," McDonald said. Like Duval, she immediately made an impact after taking the reins, building the volleyball program into one that consistently makes deep postseason runs, including two IHSA final four appearances. "We wanted to do something to show support to his family and to continue his legacy. We thought a scholarship in his name, for hopefully several years to come, will be exactly the way we would want his legacy to continue."

For the main event, the Spartans will square off against Illini Prairie Conference foe Monticello. Duval, after retiring from the St. Joseph-Ogden school district, returned to teaching as a substitute teacher and taught mathematics at Monticello.

"There will be several opportunities to support the fundraiser," McDonald pointed out. There will be a pork chop dinner special, a silent auction, t-shirts for sale, and more in addition to the traditional 50/50 contest. "The girls are doing some different fundraiser opportunities. They are going to have pumpkins to buy that they have been working on."

She is hoping for a good turnout at the Tuesday evening match to help seed the scholarship fund so it will be available to SJO graduates entering college for decades to come.

"The more money we raise, the more years we can name a scholarship winner in his name."

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Photo Gallery: Spartan football wins 5th straight game

SJO quarterback Evan Ingram
St. Joseph-Ogden's Evan Ingram takes a snap from center Conrad Miller during the first quarter of their final regular-season home game. Both Ingram and Miller were honored before the start of Friday's game during a ceremony recognizing and thanking all the SJO seniors on the team .
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Alex Funk celebrates

Pumping his fist after a play, Alex Funk celebrates a fumble recovery in the Spartans' favor. St. Joseph-Ogden went on to defeat visiting Rantoul, 29-6. Funk and this year's football squad need just one more victory to guarantee a playoff berth and a regular-season 6-3 record.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Alex Funk blocks for Miller

Opening up a running lane, Spartans' Alex Funk gives teammate Coby Miller a lead block on a play during the first quarter against visiting Rantoul.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Enduring the endless rainy conditions, SJO cheerleaders lead fans in a cheer.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Bob Glazier keeps a watchful eye

SJO assistant coach Bob Glazier keeps a watchful eye on his defensive players during his last regular-season game on the sidelines at Dick Duval Field. Glazier, who taught physics at the school during his teaching career, started his coaching career at SJO three decades ago and is a member of the IHSFCA Hall of Fame.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Braxton Waller blocks Rantoul's Rashon Allen during first half action.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Keaton Nolan, Mark Miller and Coby Miller

Spartans' Keaton Nolan, Mark Miller and Coby Miller stop quarterback Keddrick Terhune in his tracks.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO head coach Shawn Skinner talks to players during a timeout in the second half.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Kis Donald-Wheeler hauls in a pass
During one of the moments of heavy rainfall during the game, Rantoul receiver Kis Donald-Wheeler hauls in a pass before carrying the ball over the goal line for his team's only touchdown of the game.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Coby Miller looks for a hole

Coby Miller looks for a hole while carrying the ball during first quarter action against the Eagles.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Mark Miller and Owen Birt

St. Joseph-Ogden's Mark Miller and Owen Birt wrap up Rantoul running back Rashon Allen.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Rain at Dick Duval Field
The field lights at Dick Duval Field bounce light off the steady fall of rain during the game.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

While Spencer Fitch and teammates look on, Spartan Griffin Roesch hoists Evan Ingram after a touchdown.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartan Spencer Fitch runs to join teammates

After shaking hands with Rantoul players, Spartan Spencer Fitch runs to join teammates with the remaining student fans who endured the rain-soaked home game to sing the school fight song. Like his teammates, Fitch was ecstatic after picking up their fifth consecutive victory on Friday.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Shawn Skinner talks to his players

SJO head coach Shawn Skinner talks to his players after their 29-6 conference win over Rantoul. Skinner and the Spartans need just one more win to guarantee a spot in the 2021 playoffs.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Looking for photos of a specific player from either team or from this season? Email us at photos@oursentinel.com with the athlete's name and jersey number for details.
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Photo of the Day - October 26, 2020

Dick Duval and SJO football advances to state title game

Next stop, Huskie Stadium

While players celebrate up and down the sideline, St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Dick Duval and his coaching staff - including now head coach Shawn Skinner, son Kiel Duval and Marshall Schacht - head midfield to shake the hands with the Greenville coaching staff after their Class 3A semifinal football game. The Spartans advanced to the division's title game after defeating the Comets 44-21 November 23 ,2013. Heading into the showdown with Stillman Valley, the high-powered SJO offense and hard-nosed defensive squad rolled forward with an eight-game wins streak behind them. Duval and the Spartans would go on to bring home the program's 5th state runner-up trophy after an epic, controversial battle and a heartbreaking 43-41 overtime loss to the Cardinals.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Photo Gallery |
Spartans beat Rockets in Week 2 thriller at Dick Duval Field

Tanner Siems bursts through the Spartan banner followed by the rest of the team during the pregrame introduction on Friday at Dick Duval Field. Hours later St. Joseph-Ogden would emerge victorious in the home game against Unity, 24-21.
Maroon Platoon

An SJO student fan cheers during first-quarter action against the visiting Rockets. It took a little under eight minutes for the Spartans to light up the scoreboard on their way to their second conference win.

Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden Maroon Platoon cheer for the Spartans during the first half of the game. SJO led the Illini Prairie Conferenc game at the half, 21-14 .

Unity running back Garrett Richardson finds plenty of running room against the Spartans in the first half.
Unity running back Garrett Richardson

Unity running back Garrett Richardson is brought down an 11 yard run.
St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
Kaden Wedig hangs on to pass

Kaden Wedig hangs on to pass during first half action against the Rockets.
Garrett Richardson

Virtually untouched, Rocket running back Garrett Richardson slides into the end zone on a six-yard run for a third-quarter touchdown to tie up the score at 21-all.

Unity's Tyler Henry shoves St. Joseph-Ogden's Tim Blackburn-Kelley out of bounds. Blackburn-Kelley finished Friday's game with seven yards rushing on four carries and two catches for 23 yards. He also tallied a 32-yard run on a kick return and two more on a punt return.

Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden's Class of 1994 are recognized between quarters. The alumni enjoy their reunion weekend with a Spartan football victory.

Drummer for the March Spartans pounds out beat during a break in the action on the field.

A Spartan cheerleader keeps an eye on the action on the field. This year's 20-member squad kept fans and the student section cheering all four quarters of the home game.
Brayden Waller block Unity's Coleton Langendorf

St. Joseph-Ogden linebacker Brayden Waller block Unity's Coleton Langendorf.
Wyatt Wertz scampers past a Unity lineman

Wyatt Wertz scampers past a Unity lineman. Wertz delivered 19 of SJO's 159 yards on the ground.
Unity's Tyler Henry

Unity's Tyler Henry avoids St. Joseph-Ogden's Tayton Gerdes while returning a kickoff. His only return on special teams, Henry took the ball 49 yard before being stopped by the Spartans.

SJO's Carson Sarnecki and Quincy Jones wrap up Unity running back Garrett Richardson during third quarter action.
Spartan receiver Kaden Wedig

Covered by Unity's Ryan Rink, Spartan receiver Kaden Wedig snags the ball for a fourth-quarter catch.
Brennan Oleynichak lifts teammate Coy Taylor

Brennan Oleynichak lifts teammate Coy Taylor into the air after his 26-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Taylor tallied a game-high 105 yards with nine catches.

Kaden Wedig hauls in a pass despite in-his-face coverage from Unity's Graydin Cler during the fourth quarter. Wedig, who finished with three catches for 42 yards, fell out of bounds in what could have been the go-ahead touchdown for the Spartans.
Kodey McKinney checks out scoreboard

Waiting to go back in, Spartan quarterback Kodey McKinney gazes at the scoreboard at Dick Duval Field during the fourth quarter. The junior signal caller scored St. Joseph-Ogden's first TD on a one-yard run in the first quarter. He finished his second varsity game with 43 rushing yards and threw for 268 yards against the Rockets.

Spartan manager Cameron Kuchenbrod heads back to the sidelines after giving water to players during a timeout.
Brayden Henry breaks up a pass to Tanner Siems

Rockets' Brayden Henry breaks up a pass play to Spartans' Tanner Siems early in the fourth quarter. Siems finished the regular season contest with a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter and 110 yards.
Dane Eisenmenger

Unity's Dane Eisenmenger looks to make a throw in the fourth quarter. The junior quarterback completed seven of his 12 passes for 110 yards and tacked on 15 rushing yards in the loss to the Spartans.
Garrett Richardson stiff arms

Rockets' Garrett Richardson stiff arms Tim Blackburn-Kelley on a carry during the fourth quarter. Richardson had 22 carries for 90 yards and a 19-yard catch in Unity's second game of the season.
Wyatt Wertz, Cameron Wagner, and Gabe Mata

Surrounded by teammates Wyatt Wertz, Cameron Wagner, and Gabe Mata, SJO kicker Charlie Schmitz enjoys the moment after kicking the game-winning field goal from 31 yards out with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to seal a 24-21 victory.
Spartan lineman Josh Courter

Spartan lineman Josh Courter celebrates with this team after SJO's second-straight regular season win over Unity.
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