Elite coaching produces elite results.

Steve grew up in Park Ridge and attended Maine South High School.  As the son of Italian immigrants, Steve gravitated to the soccer field, but by the time he reached high school, he recognized that there wasn’t much of a future for a 250 pound midfielder....  He was fortunate to have great coaches who encouraged him to play football, including: Phil Hopkins, Dave Inserra, Phil Kardasz, Charlie Bliss, and Carl and Rick Magsamen.  Steve earned All-State, All-Area and All-Conference honors as an offensive and defensive lineman.  He was also part of the MSFB All Numbers Team and the Maine South Hitter’s Club.  After graduating from Maine South, Steve attended Northwestern University on a football scholarship and was a member of the 2000 Big Ten Championship team.  His brother Vince also attended Maine South and went on to University of New Mexico on a football scholarship, eventually earning All-American and All-Mountain West honors as an offensive lineman.  Steve works in the finance industry and is a Partner with a Chicago-based private equity firm.  He lives in Park Ridge with his wife Allison and their four kids.  The opportunities afforded and lessons learned from the coaching staffs at Maine South and Northwestern were invaluable.  Steve is proud to have the opportunity to coach with Park Ridge Hawks Travel Football and hopes to have a positive impact on players and their families.

Mike has been a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Chicago since 2010. He

graduated from Indiana University with a Major in Economics and Minor in Finance degree. He grew up

in the Chicago neighborhood of Edgebrook Sauganash where he then attended and played Varsity football at Loyola Academy. He currently resides in St. Charles, IL with his wife, Michelle, and children.  In his free time, Mike enjoys coaching in the Park Ridge Hawks football program, playing basketball, and golfing to keep up with his competitive nature.

 Strength and Conditioning 

Danny was born in Chicago, IL, to Italian parents and grew up in Norridge.  He graduated from Pennoyer School in 2003, and then went to Maine South High School, where he played on the soccer team all four years.  He competed in the State tourney in 2006 and the team took third place.  In  2007, Danny started his career as a personal trainer and worked at a variety of clubs like Bally Total Fitness and FFC.  In 2010, Danny attended Concordia University in Chicago, and obtained  a degree in physical education, health and driver’s education.  Danny was the starting kicker and punter for Concordia D3 football for four years.  In 2014, he started a career in education, teaching PE, health and driver’s ed at various schools in the Chicagoland area, teaching grades 7-12.  In 2019, Danny started a holistic fitness company, Danny Cola Fitness, teaching and coaching one on one, small group fitness classes, steel mace and functional movement workshops.  In 2020, Danny joined the coaching staff of the Park Ridge Hawks Travel Football as the strength and conditioning coach for all levels.  Danny recently opened his own personal training studio in Park Ridge, called Underground Fitness.  It is his personal goal and mission to build a community around physical and mental optimization.  Underground Fitness is the official training facility of the Park Ridge Hawks.  Danny can be reached at 847.347.4398 and followed on Instagram @dannycolafitness and @underground.fitness.pr.  He also has a podcast on iTunes and Spotify, “The Danny Cola Podcast,” which is a conversational style podcast that discusses optimization and connections to higher potential. 

Mark is a graduate of Maine South High School and makes his home in Park Ridge with his family. During his time at Maine South, he had the privilege of playing under IHSA Hall of Fame coach Phil Hopkins, earning USA Today Honorable Mention All-American recognition, All-State, All-Area, All-Conference honors, and a place on the school’s prestigious All Numbers Team.

After graduation, Mark earned a four-year football scholarship to Miami University, where he became a three-year starter at Left Tackle. He embraced the discipline and dedication required to succeed both in the classroom and on the field, taking pride in the title of student-athlete. For Mark, the lessons learned through sports have always been as meaningful as those learned in academics.

Some of his fondest memories come from playing youth team sports, and he is passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation. He encourages young athletes to carry with them the values of teamwork, positivity, and a never-give-up attitude.

Mark holds a degree in Engineering as well as an MBA, and today he works in Private Equity, Engineering, and Operations in Chicago.

Bobby grew up in Park ridge and attended Maine  South high school. He played both football and baseball on the varsity level and received all conference honors in baseball. 

He went on to play Football at Augustana College and was a 4 year starter. 

He was a captain for 2 years and holds 5 school records as a slot receiver and punt returner. Bobby also received all conference honors three years in a row and 3rd team all region as a punt returner. 

He currently lives in Chicago and has coached for the Park Ridge Hawks for many years. He loves to be a positive influence and role model for the players he coaches each year both on and off the field

Matt is a lifelong Park Ridge resident. He grew up in Park Ridge, attended Maine South High School, and currently resides in Park Ridge with his family.  For ten years, Matt has actively served as a youth sports coach for football and wrestling.  As a former Maine South football alum, Matt was captain of the 1994 Maine South Hawks under the legendary leadership of Phil Hopkins.  He is proud to be highlighted as part of the MSFB All Numbers Team (#71).  As a college athlete, Matt competed as a heavyweight wrestler at Illinois State University.   Today, he is honored to continue youth coaching and mentorship with the Park Ridge Hawks Elite Football program. Matt draws from his experience as an athlete to instill the values of commitment, hard work, and love for the game.  Go Hawks!

Forrest is a product of Southern California. He played high school Football, Wrestling, and Baseball.  He spent 4 years as a varsity wrestler. His first coaching experience was as a freshman high school baseball coach in 2002. He has been coaching youth sports since 2014 including baseball, basketball, and football and says that coaching is one of his greatest pleasures. 

He moved to Chicago in 2004 and currently resides in Park Ridge. He has a lovely wife and 3 wonderful children. He has one child at Tennessee, one at Maine South, and one at Emerson. Forrest works  as a lab supervisor at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush Hospital. 

He joined the coaching staff in 2025 as a lineman coach. His intensity is as immense as his voice. You can hear him at practice and just about every Maine South football game.

Manny Roman grew up in Niles, Illinois, attended Niles West High School, and played football, baseball, and wrestled. He started coaching youth sports in 2021 and has coached football, baseball, wrestling, and softball. Manny has served as a head coach in both baseball and football and has also been an assistant coach in wrestling and softball.

He led his baseball team to three consecutive championships in 2023, 2024, and 2025, with the most recent title coming in the CSYBA Sparrow Division (Chicago Suburban Youth Baseball Association).

Now living in Des Plaines since 2015 with his wife and two kids—a 12-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son—Manny works as a Fleet Lead Mechanic for ComEd, where he has spent the past 20 years. Outside of work and coaching, lifting weights and fitness are major passions of his and a big part of his daily life.

Manny never expected to enjoy coaching youth sports as much as he does. He focuses on teaching discipline, accountability, and fostering a family-like environment where players feel supported and push each other to grow. He also makes sure they are having fun while doing it. At heart, he’s still a big kid himself, and that’s exactly what helps him connect with the athletes he coaches.

Growing up in Chicago, Michael attended Lane Tech High School where he played football and lacrosse. After graduating in 1997,  he  continued to play football for 10 years in the USFTL. Traveling across  the country and experiencing a high level of competition that  strengthened his love for the game and enhanced his understanding of  teamwork and discipline. He continued challenging himself by boxing and  competing in the Golden Gloves.

That foundation is what fuels his passion for coaching today.

Since  2019 he has coached football, baseball, and basketball, and he takes  pride in helping athletes grow both in their skills and in their  confidence.

With  a team first mindset, high energy, and a genuine commitment to every  athlete he works with, he strives to give back through the same lessons  and values sports instilled in him. Coaching isn’t just something he  does it’s a way he continues to impact the next generation, helping them  learn, compete, and believe in what they can achieve.

Michael and his wife Monika moved to Park Ridge in 2015 where they live with their 3 children.

Anthony Ragona went to Maine South High School and graduated in 1997.

He played 4 defensive tackle for the Hawks. He was on the 1995 state championship team. He was all conference and all state special mention.

Anthony played college football at Harper College for 2 years being recognized as all conference.

He played his second 2 years of college football at Western Illinois. He lead this team to win the Gateway Conference.

Anthony and his family live in Niles. He has been giving back to the community by coaching youth football and wrestling for many years.

Coach Molina is a dedicated member of the Park Ridge football community, bringing decades of experience and leadership to the program. A former starting quarterback at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago, he has maintained a lifelong connection to the sport and its values.

A Park Ridge resident since 1998, Coach Molina has invested many years into youth athletics, including coaching his oldest son throughout his development as a player. His approach emphasizes preparation, teamwork, and consistent improvement on and off the field.

Outside of coaching, he is an avid fan of football, baseball, and basketball, and enjoys spending his time with family. His steady presence, experience, and commitment make him an invaluable part of the organization.