Ex-Lake Zurich coach DiMatteo named new Buffalo Grove football coach

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Mike DiMatteo, seen here at Hinsdale Central practice, has been named the new head football coach at Buffalo Grove. Stacia Timonere/For the Sun-Times

Updated: January 13, 2012 5:07PM

The search is over.

Mike DiMatteo has been named as the new head football coach at Buffalo Grove High School.

DiMatteo, who was head coach at Lake Zurich (2000-05), will succeed Jim Farrell.

Meanwhile, at Wheeling, ex-Prospect coach Brent Pearlman, a Buffalo Grove graduate, will take over the reins. He replaces Dave Dunbar, who retires in June.

Pearlman also has a Lake Zurich connection. He served as LZ’s offensive coordinator this past season. The Bears advanced to the IHSA Class 7A state semifinals.

“Our athletic administration is very excited that Coach DiMatteo will become our next head football coach,” noted BG assistant principal for student activies Mark Schaetzlein. “His leadership and experience will best serve the needs of our students and athletes. He has demonstrated that he has the skills to maximize the potential of our football players in order to attain the highest of successes both on and off the field.”

This will be DiMatteo’s third head coaching stint. He left Lake Zurich to become the head coach at Hinsdale Central. During his six seasons with the Red Devils, he compiled a 71-45 record with five state playoff appearances, including a Class 8A runner-up finish in 2008.

DiMatteo, who stepped down at Hinsdale Central following a 4-5 season in 2010, was an assistant at Glenbard West this past season.

At Lake Zurich, DiMatteo went 30-14. His 2002 squad advanced to the Class 7A semifinals.

DiMatteo also has been successful in the class room. He won the 2010 Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction award. He has extensive experience teaching AP European History and AP Government. Pending approval by the District 214 school board, he will join BG’s social studies/world languages department.

Pearlman had an amazing run at Prospect. During this 12 years there, the Knights captured three Class 7A state titles. His overall mark was 104-34.

Lake Zurich, which is considered one of the top football programs in the state, certainly will be in transition. In addition to Perlman’s departure, the Bears also lost their head coach Bryan Stortz.

After six stellar seasons at LZ, including a state title in ‘07 and state runner-up finishes in ‘06 and ‘10, Stortz was taken over the program at Rock Island.