Chicago High School’s Pride on Display as Marist Alumni Lead Teams to College Football National Championship
The College Football National Championship next week will bring a wave of excitement to college football fans, with a Midwestern twist. The highly anticipated showdown between Notre Dame and Ohio State will mark the first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) championship game featuring the newly expanded 12-team format. The game will take place in Atlanta, and while both teams represent national powerhouses, for one Chicago community, the stakes are especially personal.
Marist High School, nestled in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood, finds itself with a strong rooting interest in the upcoming championship game. The school has a deep connection to both teams competing for the title—Notre Dame and Ohio State—through three standout former players, all of whom were mentored by former Marist football coach Ron Dawczak. Dawczak, who served as head coach from 2017 to 2023, will be watching closely as two of his former players—Pat Coogan of Notre Dame and Carnell Tate of Ohio State—take the field for the national title.
Dawczak’s connection to these players runs deep, and as he prepares to watch the game from his home in Chicago, the emotions are already running high. “I’m going to have just a tremendous amount of pride,” Dawczak shared. “I’m going to have a huge smile on my face watching these kids compete.”
While Dawczak is proud of all his former athletes, these three young men stand out in his mind. Pat Coogan, now the starting center for Notre Dame, was a key player under Dawczak’s leadership at Marist. Additionally, Dawczak coached two players from Ohio State: Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes’ starting wide receiver, and Nolan Baudo, a sophomore reserve wideout. The pride that Dawczak feels is evident as he reflects on their hard work, talent, and the perseverance they showed during their time at Marist. “These three players—great players for us, you know, in their time at Marist; great kids too that worked really hard,” he said. “For them to be able to play in the biggest game of the college football season on a national stage, it’s just so awesome.”
Coogan, known for his leadership, has garnered attention for his fiery pregame speeches at Notre Dame. His passionate messages have even gone viral among fans, showcasing a side of him that was perhaps less noticeable during his time at Marist. “If something needed to be said, he wasn’t afraid to say it, but he’s expanded his leadership role as he’s moved on to Notre Dame,” Dawczak recalled. It’s clear that Coogan’s natural leadership skills have grown since his high school days, making him an inspiring presence on one of the biggest stages in college football.
As for Tate, his journey to Ohio State was a bit different. He transferred to IMG Academy in Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 but began his high school football career at Marist. He was an exceptional talent from the start, being the only freshman to start on the varsity team during Dawczak’s tenure. “He was just so advanced physically at the wide receiver position. He came in as a 6’2″, 180-pound freshman—just a really natural ability; smooth route runner; a really good understanding of the game,” Dawczak said. Tate’s maturity on and off the field, especially given his age, was beyond impressive. “That’s a hard thing for a 14-year-old to go up and compete with guys that are 17, 18 years old, so he had the physical ability, and also the mental maturity to be able to handle that.”
Now, with both Tate and Coogan playing for national glory, the question naturally arises: who will Dawczak and the Marist community be rooting for when the teams face off? Dawczak, ever the supportive coach, doesn’t want to pick sides. “We’re rooting for an offensive explosion,” he said with a smile. “I’m hoping that Pat moves the ball, creates some running lanes for the running game, and protects the quarterback, and that Carnell continues to run great routes and contribute in the passing game for Ohio State.” For Dawczak, it’s about seeing his former players excel, regardless of which team ultimately wins.
Despite stepping down as Marist’s head football coach, Dawczak continues to teach at the school and remains closely involved with the Marist community. He has a particular sense of pride in how Pat Coogan has developed, especially considering the challenges Coogan faced early in the season. “I’m particularly proud of how Pat handled not starting for Notre Dame at the beginning of the season,” Dawczak explained. “He stuck with it, and when the opportunity came, he stepped up and took full advantage of it.” Coogan’s resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity have made him a standout player for the Fighting Irish, and his journey has inspired many at Marist.
As the national championship game approaches, it’s clear that the Marist High School community is watching with pride. Whether they cheer for Ohio State or Notre Dame, they’ll be supporting their alumni on the grandest stage in college football. And for Ron Dawczak, it’s a moment to reflect on the hard work and dedication of his players, both past and present, as they aim for football glory.
