Educating Chicago’s Youth Since 1997

In Perspectives Charter Schools sports, the focus is on the athletes, but two coaches and an administrator recently grabbed a bit of the spotlight.

PCS head football coach Terry Jones was a finalist for the Positive Coaching Alliance’s 2013 Double-Goal Coach Award. Perspectives Leadership Academy/High School of Technology head boys basketball coach Jevon Mamon was selected as the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association high school boys District 3 Co-Coach of the Year, and PCS athletic director Vinay Mullick was named the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Athletic Director of the Year for Division I, which covers Chicago.

The Double-Goal Coach program recognizes youth and high school coaches from throughout the United States who embody the ideals of the Double-Goal Coach, striving to win while also teaching positive life lessons through sports.

“Coach Jones is a great role model for our young men, and his winning this award is truly representative of all he does for his athletes on and off the field,” Mullick said. “He is a great ambassador for Perspectives Charter Schools and our football program.”

Jones’ leadership and discipline helped the Warriors—a coop team made up of students from all four PCS high schools—finish with a 7-3 overall record and qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in the five-year history of the varsity football program. Perspectives also won the Chicago Public League Windy City Conference title with a 7-0 record.

“It is a tremendous honor to coach a spirited group of young men in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood,” Jones said. “We enjoyed a successful season because our athletes are smart and competitive.”

Mamon led the Warriors—in just their fifth season of varsity basketball—to the top season any PCS athletic team has produced. They upset three higher-seeded teams to win their first-ever regional basketball title and reach the Class 3A state tournament sectional championship round, or “Sweet 16,” before losing to eventual state champ Morgan Park.

He was recently recognized at the IBCA Hall of Fame Banquet at Illinois State University.

“I coach because I love the game of basketball and the opportunities it can provide for our student-athletes,” said Mamon, who has coached the Warriors for two seasons. “It’s a teaching platform to mold our young scholars into strong men through lessons that stretch far beyond the basketball court and that they can use as a resource for the rest of their lives.”

“We are proud of Coach Mamon for his accomplishments this year and for being recognized by the IBCA as a Co-Coach of the Year,” Mullick said.

In his six years as athletic director, Mullick has guided PCS sports through a period of great change as Perspectives has added schools and sports teams. In addition to the historic success it has enjoyed in high school football and basketball this school year, PCS has achieved great success in boys indoor track and in middle-school sports.

He also has maintained a focus on character development among his athletes and on program development, which includes the recent introduction of a Perspectives athletic department Twitter account.

“Vinay works tirelessly day-in and day-out to give student-athletes at Perspectives the opportunity to mature through sport,” said Rhonda Hopps, Perspectives’ chief executive officer. “We are proud of his accomplishments on behalf of our students, coaches and the Perspectives community.”

Mullick has been on the IADA executive board for about three years, serving mainly as a liaison between the association and the Chicago Public League. He also has served as a resource for new charter school athletic directors.

“It’s always nice to be recognized by your peers,” Mullick said of his award, which he will receive at the IADA state conference May 4 in Peoria. “I appreciate all the hard work of our coaches and student-athletes and the support of our parents and administrators over the years.”