LZHS boasts an athletic program rivaled by many.  Last season alone, numerous sports reached the playoffs and some even placed first in state; and with the help of Rolly Vazquez, athletic director, the program is only improving. 

Vazquez is in charge of ensuring a smooth, successful athletic program.  Some of his jobs include scheduling facilities, buses, and competitions, hiring coaches and officials, as well as planning the Athletic Program’s budget.  

“There are a lot of little things that you have to orchestrate and know how to put together to get the system done correctly,” Vazquez said. 

One of Vazquez’s most demanding jobs is preparing for home football games.  To ensure a smooth game, he meets with members of the grounds crew, the Quarterback club, custodians, and workers, among others. 

“I sit down with my grounds people…my custodian staff, make sure the bathrooms are clean…tables are out there for the ticket takers,” Vazquez said.  “I have to make sure we assign and organize the staff that’s out there.”

These meetings are essential in preparing for home games, as it allows problems to be resolved early and ensure that everyone is on the same page, Vazquez said.  

Each week Vazquez creates an overview sheet for the opposing team which includes game location, time, parking instructions, who the officials are, and more information. 

“It’s like we’re hosting a big party,” Vazquez said. “And we throw a good one.”

While Vazquez generally works behind the scenes on running the Athletic Program, he says his favorite part of being the Athletic Director is watching students grow. 

“[I like] being able to watch competitions, being able to watch students grow from a freshman to a senior,” Vazquez said,  “watching them develop as individuals and how they carry themselves, watching the development as a person and their character as they mature.”

Vazquez tries to walk through a few practices at least once a week and learn students’ names.  He even has students come back and thank him for his contributions to their athletic experience at LZHS. 

“Being able to watch kids come back and say, ‘You know, you made a difference in my life, it was fun playing for you,’ whatever it may be, it’s great to watch kids come back,” Vazquez said. 

The Athletic Program has been highly successful in recent years, including the cheerleading team winning State last year, and Vazquez gives credit to everyone in the Lake Zurich community. 

“Everybody always says ‘good job’ to me, but a lot of that is just by putting the right people in the right positions, and the support from the community, and everybody understanding and knowing what it takes to have a program,” Vazquez said. 

Vazquez also takes pride in the program’s strictly enforced Code of Conduct.  The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for student athletes as well as punishments for violations.  Vazquez values the importance of academics over extracurriculars, which is related through the tight policies.

“We’re not going to do everything just to win,” Vazquez said. “If we’re going to lose because a student doesn’t do their homework and they’re ineligible, then we’re going to have to pay the price.”

Vazquez is constantly working to enhance the Athletic Program and is currently looking into adding new facilities, improving old facilities, and revising the Code of Conduct. 

However, funding and planning still must be determined in order for Vazquez to begin these ventures.

Not only is Vazquez trying to improve LZHS athletics, he also works to improve Illinois athletics as he is a member of the IHSA Legislative Committee.

“I go down there a few times a year and talk with the IHSA and go over new constitutions and new by-laws that high schools propose and I’ll go and share those amendments or proposal to all the principals and [Athletic Directors] in our area,” Vazquez said.

After meeting with these administrators, Vazquez returns to the Committee and they decide whether or not they want to vote on the proposal.  

While Vazquez might not be on the field every day at practice, he is always orchestrating the details involved with the athletic program to ensure an efficient and successful program.

“A good day for me is when a bus shows up on time, an official walks in, the coaches and the teams are here, the game’s going, that means I did a great job,” Vazquez said.  “And if we win, that’s a bonus.”