Dennis Moran has spent his entire career at Nazareth Academy, working from teacher to head football coach to president with other duties along the way.
And last Friday night, he got the ultimate honor, one that when he learned of it, nearly brought him to tears.
Moran, who spent 15 seasons on the sidelines as head football coach for Nazareth Academy, had the Roadrunners field named for him.
The football field was christened Dennis Moran Field during a ceremony before Nazareth’s homecoming game Friday against St. Rita.
“Honestly, I was shocked,” Moran, 68, said about the honor. “It almost brought me to tears.”
He learned of it during a Mass of recognition for people like himself who’ve given so much to the La Grange Park high school. Then Nazareth Academy President Deb Tracy made the announcement.
Moran has made many contributions to Nazareth but the biggest may be the hiring of Tim Racki as head football coach.
Racki coached the Roadrunners to a third straight state title last season. He’s won six state titles there including 2014, 2015 and 2018 and 10 in his storied career.
After coaching the 2004 season, Moran had been promoted to President of Nazareth. All he asked was that be allowed to find the next football coach. He also was the school’s athletic director for years.
Moran had met Racki when the latter was at Driscoll, before he became a very successful head football coach there, winning four straight state crowns.
“He and I connected. After I was named the president, he and I sat down at breakfast. He agreed that after the school year, he would come to Nazareth and be the head football coach,” Moran recalled.
That was after Driscoll’s fourth straight state championship. Now Racki is in his 21st season coaching Nazareth to a 5-1 record this year.
Moran is delighted to have a long connection with the La Grange Park high school.
“This is the first year Nazareth has three generations of Morans. I’m in charge of buildings and grounds, (son) Casey is the math department chair and offensive coordinator and (grandson) Oscar is a freshman,” Moran said. Oscar plays football for Nazareth.
Football, of course, remains near and dear to Moran’s heart. He attends every game, home and away.
According to the IHSA, Moran coached the Roadrunners to the playoffs in nine of his 15 seasons. He noted that the first two years after he stopped coaching, “I couldn’t even walk onto the field.”
“It’s something I truly loved to do. When I was asked to be the President of Nazareth. I wanted to keep coaching, I talked with my wife and my father, we felt this was the best move for me and for the future of Nazareth.”
In a prepared statement, Nazareth Academy President Deborah Tracy said, “It’s impossible to conceive of Nazareth Academy as it stands today without acknowledging the involvement and dedication of Dennis Moran.”
Moran, formerly of Brookfield and La Grange, now resides in Westchester.
Moran has served in no fewer than 12 roles during his tenure at Nazareth, including teacher, coach, Dean of Students, President, Athletic Director and now Director of Buildings and Grounds.
He graduated from Catholic grammar school, high school and university. Stands to reason he’s been working in a Catholic high school ever since.
“Giving back to others. I’ve learned from great women, the Sisters (of St. Joseph) and my coworkers at Nazareth. Giving back to others is how I live my life and that’s what we’re doing at Naz,” Moran said.
Nazareth was an all-girls school back in the day. Moran is a graduate of the former St. Joe’s in Westchester.
“Another special thing (here) is the amount of kids who come back and work for us. In the faculty and coaching. We probably have six guys on our coaching staff now who are graduates,” Moran said.
Moran and his wife have been married 43 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
