There’s a telling power in one-word titles, a force of personality and a depth of communicator respect and care that makes one word enough to identify its owner. For retired physical education teacher, Joe Bunge that title is “Coach,” a title whose sacredness falls second only to “Dad” and “Grandpa.” Bunge’s journey to “Coach” began as an All-Catholic League football player at Gordon Tech High School in Chicago, where he found a profound example in his own coach, Larry Bielat. A four-year starter at Southern Illinois University, Bunge developed a deeper appreciation for the game while earning his BS and MS in Education. After graduation, Bunge was eager to enter the coaching ranks, taking assistant positions at Southern Illinois University (1971-72), Niles North (1972-73), and Gordon Tech (1973-1977). He became co-head coach at Tilden High School in 1978, a position that he would hold for seven years, compiling a record of 63-14 along the way. During his time at Tilden, Bunge’s relentless training, tough but fair discipline, and high expectations resulted in four conference championship teams, two conference runner-ups, three one-loss teams, and one undefeated team, the 1979 City Blue Division champions. In 1982, Tilden won the first IHSA playoff game in the history of the Chicago Public League, and in 1983, Bunge was named Chicago Coach of the Year. After a year as a graduate assistant football coach at Michigan State, Bunge coached football and wrestling at New Trier before finally landing at Naperville Central in 1986, thus kicking off a twenty-year career of tremendous impact at NCHS. In his twenty years at Naperville Central, Bunge won or shared eight DuPage Valley Conference titles, went unbeaten eight times, strung together a twenty-four game winning streak in the conference, won a 6A IHSA state championship in 1999 with a season record of 14-0, and finished state runner-up in 1995 and 2001. Nationally, his teams were ranked in the top-25 six times and in the top-10 four times by USA Today. Over 30 of his players received Division 1 scholarships, while 18 were named All-State players. Redhawks Tim Lavery and Ryan Clifford (both members of the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame), as well as Dempsey Norman of Tilden, earned Chicago Player of the Year distinction; Clifford was named Illinois Player of the Year in 1999. Always one to celebrate his athletes’ achievements more than his own, Bunge nonetheless left his own mark in the record book, tallying the most wins in Naperville Central football history (171), notching the best winning percentage (75%), and registering the longest tenure as NC head football coach. He was named Coach of the Year by the Chicago Sun Times, Naperville Sun, and American Football Coach magazine.Renowned educator and author Peter Drucker once argued, “Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy and then help to orchestrate the energy of those around you.” Bunge embodied this quote during his time on the Naperville Central sideline. When Lavery, the 1995 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, he reflected on the impact his head coach had on him both as a player and a person: “Each time I left the sideline, [Bunge would] tell me, regardless of the situation or score, ‘Be a leader.’ He was the first coach that I had a 50/50 give and take player/coach relationship with. We had a perfect marriage.” Lavery’s relationship with Bunge is reflective of the connection that “Coach” had with all of this athletes: whether they were an All-American or the last player off the bench, Bunge demanded an equal investment from all of his players and earned the respect of hundreds of former players and assistant coaches throughout his coaching years. Bunge’s coaching legacy reached far beyond Memorial Stadium. He was always a popular speaker on both the state and national stage, coached the ICA/Shrine All-Star game, and was a three-time coach in the City/Suburban game. In 2010, he was named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.Reflecting on his resume reminds us that Bunge truly perfected the art of fielding eleven players at a time. Along with his wife and “co-coach” of 30 years, Cheryl, the pair has put together perhaps his greatest collection of eleven: daughters Amanda, Heather and Carissa, son-in-laws Jim and Adam, and grandchildren Jimmy, Anna, Kiley, Adam, Madison, and Ethan. While all who share in Bunge’s life are fortunate, the lucky ones get to call him “Coach.” The luckiest? Those who call him Dad and Grandpa.