IVC football legend still impacting prep game as a coach

Paul Johnson
Jerry Blew (right) talks with Bolingbrook head coach John Ivlow and two players during a recent practice. The Chillicothe native is the Raiders' volunteer assistant coach, working with quarterbacks. (Photo by Paul Johnson for Chronicle Media)

Jerry Blew (right) talks with Bolingbrook head coach John Ivlow and two players during a recent practice. The Chillicothe native is the Raiders’ volunteer assistant coach, working with quarterbacks. (Photo by Paul Johnson for Chronicle Media)

Bolingbrook football coach John Ivlow is not shy about hiring retired former coaches, and he knows when he’s got a guy that may be willing to help his program.

“You can sometimes tell when you talk to guys and they’re getting the itch again,” Ivlow said.

Ivlow had one of those conversations with Chillicothe native Jerry Blew during the offseason.

Blew, 74, helped the Raiders’ program for three years before leg problems prompted him to take a five-year leave from the sport. This year, Blew is back in Bolingbrook working with the quarterbacks, something he has done for around 40 years.

“My wife enjoys it too because I get out of the house every day and I don’t mess with her,” Blew joked.

Blew and his wife Lee split their time between Bolingbrook and Cape Canaveral, Fla. these days, but his love of football keeps bringing him back.

Blew was a member of Chillicothe’s unbeaten 1957 team before embarking on a four-year career at Western Illinois University, where he was named to their athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted to the Illinois Valley Central Distinguished Alumni in July.

Following his graduation from WIU, Blew started a teaching and coaching career at Lake Park High School in Roselle. He spent time as the school’s track and field and wrestling coach and always stayed in contact with the football program, even when he became the school’s principal and wasn’t allowed to coach. He was also an official in track and wrestling. He was named to the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame in 2013.

His introduction to coaching quarterbacks came by chance.

Chillicothe native Jerry Blew is back at Bolingbrook as the Raiders' volunteer quarterback coach after a five-year absence. He has coached football off and on for over 40 years. (Photo by Paul Johnson for Chronicle Media)

Chillicothe native Jerry Blew is back at Bolingbrook as the Raiders’ volunteer quarterback coach after a five-year absence. He has coached football off and on for over 40 years. (Photo by Paul Johnson for Chronicle Media)

“Originally, I coached the offensive and defensive lines,” Blew recalled. “We ended up with more line coaches and no back coaches so that’s when I moved to quarterbacks.”

Following his retirement at Lake Park in 1994, he moved on to coach with his son Jerry at Riverside-Brookfield. While there, he worked with one of the most prolific quarterbacks in IHSA history, Tim Brasic. In 2001, Brasic passed for 4,644 yards, which is still second in IHSA history.

His work there prompted a call from Ivlow when he took over at Bolingbrook in 2002 following a brief NFL career.

“They helped us install a five-wide, no-huddle package,” Ivlow said. “To this day, we do the same thing. It’s the same calls and everything. That’s how I first got him.”

After stepping aside from Riverside-Brookfield, Ivlow realized that Blew lived a couple of miles from the Bolingbrook campus and convinced him to coach quarterbacks for three years before leg problems forced him to step aside.

That didn’t stop him from being on the sidelines during the playoffs when Bolingbrook won the Class 8A state championship in 2011 behind his star pupil, quarterback Aaron Bailey.

“He and I had a strong connection,” Blew said. “He’s a great kid.”

Ivlow values Blew’s contributions, both for his knowledge and his demeanor.

“Maybe I’ll scream at a quarterback, but he’s the voice of reason,” Ivlow said. “It’s good to have that guy that’s been around and done it. He knows his guys.”

During his five years away from coaching, he watched plenty of Mt. Carmel football, where his son Jerry is now an assistant. He also spent a lot of time with his eight grandchildren and enjoyed his time living on the beach in Florida.

The football itch is still there, however, at least for now.

“I will try to be here this year and next year at least,” Blew said. “After that, I don’t know.”

If he does decide to stay, he knows that Ivlow’s door will always be open.

–IVC football legend still impacting prep game as a coach —