Illinois High School Football Programs Welcome New Leadership for 2026 Season

Two Illinois high school football programs have finalized their coaching searches for the 2026 season, with Illini West and Rushville-Industry each selecting new leaders to guide their teams into the upcoming campaign.

Michael Lafferty received school board approval Wednesday to take over the Illini West Chargers program, replacing Jacob Calvin after serving as an assistant coach for approximately six seasons. The appointment represents a homecoming for the 2010 Illini West graduate, who played a pivotal role in the school most celebrated football achievement.

As the Chargers all-state quarterback, Lafferty orchestrated a perfect 14-0 season that culminated in the 2008 Class 3A state championship. His intimate familiarity with the program championship culture and expectations provides a unique foundation for his new role as head coach.

I just want the kids to be able to experience that type of success, Lafferty told MuddyRiverSports.com. Have that type of fun and love for the game. That what it really all comes down to, kind of put my name in and give them that type of experience.

Lafferty coaching credentials extend beyond the football field, as he currently serves as the school strength and conditioning coordinator and head boys track and field coach. His comprehensive involvement in the athletic department demonstrates his commitment to developing student-athletes across multiple disciplines.

The new coach inherits a program that posted a 5-5 overall record and 3-4 LincolnLand Conference-Large Division mark during the 2025 season. Under Calvin leadership, the Chargers achieved back-to-back Class 2A playoff appearances, though their most recent postseason run ended with a 56-12 first-round loss to Taylor Ridge Rockridge.

Football leadership runs in the Lafferty family, as Michael father Tim previously served as Illini West head coach for two seasons, adding another layer of program continuity to the appointment.

Meanwhile, Rushville-Industry announced Elliott Craig as their new head coach Friday, bringing in an experienced leader with extensive small-school football credentials. Craig assumes control of a LincolnLand Conference-Small Division program that finished 7-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play during the 2025 season.

The Rockets had compiled an impressive recent record under departing coach Brian Lafferty, who accumulated 46 victories over nine seasons with five playoff appearances spanning Class 1A and Class 2A levels. However, their 2025 campaign concluded with a first-round playoff defeat despite their strong regular season performance.

Craig appointment comes after his departure from Beardstown in January 2025, where he compiled a 15-23 record from 2021-2024 with two Class 3A playoff berths. According to the Springfield Journal-Register, Craig indicated that Beardstown administration informed him they wanted to move in a different direction with their program.

Your two choices as a coach at that point are either resign, he explained to the publication, or you say no and you make the board actually vote you out. At the end of the day, I was told it was going to be the same result.

Prior to his Beardstown tenure, Craig demonstrated sustained success at North Fulton, where he served as head coach for 14 seasons from 2007-2021. During that extended period, he accumulated 63 victories while guiding the program to five playoff appearances.

Both coaching appointments address three of the four local head coaching vacancies that emerged during the offseason, with Illinois Valley Central remaining the only program still seeking a successor to Tim Heinz. Lewistown Valley Cuba previously filled their opening by hiring Jason Coulter in mid-February.