Former Galesburg Silver Streaks athlete and longtime GHS social studies teacher Shawn Hickey is the new interim head varsity football coach at Galesburg High School.
Hickey was approved as the new coach Monday, July 1, 2024, by a 4-0 vote of the District 205 Board of Education. Board members Rod Scherpe, Jake Taylor and Tera Boettcher were not in attendance at the 3 p.m. special meeting.
Hickey replaces Derrek Blackwell, who resigned the position June 7.
A 1996 GHS grad, Hickey coached football in several capacities at GHS from 2000 through 2011, ranging from sophomore assistant, sophomore head coach and the varsity defensive coordinator for five seasons.
For the last seven years, Hickey has served as a color commentator for WGIL’s radio broadcast of Silver Streaks football games.
Hickey and his wife Melissa, also a teacher in the Galesburg school district, have been married since 2000. They have three sons: Riley, a senior at the University of Illinois; and at GHS, Andrew, a junior; and Grady, a freshman.
Hickey joins WGIL's Jay Redfern to talk about the task in front of him, how he will prioritize increasing numbers for the program, what his style will be, and what happens between now and the start of practice for the 2024 season.
WATCH THE VIDEO ...