By Mike Walsh
Correspondent
The Chicago Bears named Stagg head football coach Colt Nero and Chargers senior Lebarion Gilmore as the Chicago Bears Coach of the Week and the Chicago Bears High School All-Star for Week 3 of the 2023 season.
The honors came after Stagg defeated visiting Belleville West 24-0 in a nonconference matchup to improve to 3-0. That equaled or surpassed the program’s season win totals from seven of the past eight non-Covid seasons, the lone exception being a 4-5 finish under Mike Fahey in 2017.
The Chargers (3-1, 0-1 SouthWest Suburban Red) lost to Andrew, 41-0, in the conference opener for both teams in Week 4. They finished 0-9 in 2021 and 2-7 in 2022 — Nero’s first two non-Covid seasons — and is looking to make its first state playoff appearance since 2005.
“This is obviously a great honor,” Nero said. “I look at it as an honor that’s very cool for our program and for our school. This is a testament to how hard we’ve all worked.
“It’s great to get publicity for what we do. I’m grateful to have the guys on our staff and the players in our program because without them, this doesn’t happen.”
Gilmore, who plays quarterback and safety, intercepted a pass in the win over the Maroons.
“Lebarion is awesome,” Nero said. “He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever been around. He’s a leader for our team and he always has the energy. He makes it a point to lead by example. Lebarion’s also our emotional leader.
“We’ve been through so many things together in the last three years with him being there to pick me up and me being there to pick him up. We’re moving this program forward and he’s moved the program in the right direction. He’s allowed us to get where we’re at now.”
The Bears launched the Coach of the Week program in 1996 and the High School All-Star program in 2011. Coach of the Week honors outstanding Illinois high school coaches who develop players’ football skills and knowledge, character, leadership, discipline and teamwork abilities.
The nomination criteria for High School All-Star include on-field performance, community involvement and good sportsmanship.
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