Contact Head Coach Mike Feminis at feminis@sxu.edu
Prior to the arrival of Mike Feminis in 1999, the Saint Xavier University football program had won just eight games in its six-year history. Over the last 11 seasons, the Cougars have amassed a 89-39 record, won the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Mideast League title outright in 2009, shared the MSFA title four of the last eight seasons and qualified for the NAIA playoffs in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 including appearances in the semifinals in 2006 and 2009. To say that Mike Feminis knows how to turn a college football program around would be an understatement. In fact, American Football Monthly (AFM) and Schutt Sports named Feminis as the 2006 NAIA Coach of the Year and the MSFA named him the 2005 Midwest League Coach of the Year. He has his Cougars coming off the best season in the 17-year history of the program in 2009 finishing 13-1 overall, winning the MSFA Mideast League title outright for the first time ever and qualifying for the NAIA semifinals for just the second time. SXU also completed its first undefeated regular season in 2009 (11-0).
Under Feminis, winning has become the norm. SXU will shoot for its 11th straight winning season in 2010. However, the Cougars have not just made a name for themselves within the MSFA. Feminis has his team as a contender at the national level as well. Saint Xavier has finished in the NAIA’s top 25 in each of the last nine seasons, while earning a No. 4 final ranking in 2006 and 2009, its highest final rank ever.
Prior to his arrival at Saint Xavier, Feminis coached at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. He served as linebacker coach from 1990-93 before becoming the defensive coordinator from 1994-98.
As a player at St. Francis (Ill.) from 1986-89, Feminis started every game of his career (41) and was a four-time NAIA All-District 20 selection at linebacker. In 1989, he was named the NAIA Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today and garnered NAIA All-American First Team honors.
Feminis holds numerous school records at St. Francis, including most tackles in a game (29) and in a career (469). He was inducted into the University of St. Francis Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996 as well as his high school Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights (2000).
Feminis earned his bachelor's degree in journalism/communications from St. Francis in 1990 and his master’s in physical education/athletic administration from the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in 1993. He most recently served as president of the NAIA Coaches Association from 2007-08 and has been a member of the NAIA Raters Committee since 2000. Feminis also served on the NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete Committee from 2000-05 and the AFCA-NAIA All-American Committee in 2006.
“SXU was a dream come true for me,” said Feminis. “It was the closest college that had a football program to my hometown. I have a close-knit family, and the entire bunch comes to all of our games. This is also a great situation for me personally. I have a great staff and excellent support from the administration, plus this is a tremendous area to recruit student-athletes.”
Feminis resides in Plainfield with his wife, Meredith, and daughters, Gianna, Francesca and Sophia.
Emmrich begins his 10th season of coaching at Saint Xavier and 34th overall. He has been the defensive coordinator since his arrival in 2000.
In 2008, the Cougars had the top rushing defense (75.8 ypg) in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) marking the second straight year SXU has held that top spot. Following the 2007 campaign, the MSFA honored Emmrich by naming him the Mideast League Assistant Coach of the Year.
Prior to SXU, Emmrich was the head coach at Marist High School from 1995-99, where he compiled a 29-23 record and made two state playoff appearances.
Emmrich served as defensive coordinator at Marist High School from 1984-91 and held the same position at Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle from 1992-93. He has had coaching stints at the University of St. Francis (Ill.), Columbus Wehrle Catholic (Ohio) and Logan (Ohio) High Schools. Emmrich also was a student coach for two years at Muskingum College (Ohio), where he received his degree in 1978.
Emmrich has taught at Marist High School since 1982 and resides in Plainfield with his wife, Ann, and children, Clay and Savannah.
Yanule is in his 11th year of coaching at Saint Xavier and seventh season as offensive coordinator. Yanule commands a powerful offense that has broken numerous SXU season records over the last six years.
In 2007, Saint Xavier set season records in total offense (5,482 yards), all-purpose yards (6,875 yards), passing offense (3,692 yards) and total first downs (286). In 2003, Yanule was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year.
Before coming to SXU, Yanule was the offensive line coach at University of St. Francis (Ill.) from 1995-98. He began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at St. Francis in 1994.
Yanule is a graduate of St. Francis (‘94), where he was a two-year starter on the offensive line. He earned NAIA All-District 20 Second Team honors in 1993.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education at Saint Xavier.
Yanule lives in Shorewood with his wife, Lisa, and their newborn daughter, Alexis. He is a Chicagoland native and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Niles.
Slovick enters his fifth season at SXU and serves as the Cougars' special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to SXU, he spent 11 seasons as head football coach at MSFA Midwest League rival University of St. Francis (Ill.).
In 2008, the Cougars set a school single season record by averaging 24.1 yards per kickoff return. In addition, Slovick has had a linebacker receive All-American honors each of the past two seasons.
From 1986-92, Slovick was the defensive coordinator for the Fighting Saints. In 1987 and 1991, St. Francis was ranked among the NAIA's best in pass, rush, and total defense. In fact, Slovick was on the sidelines as a coach in all 198 games of the USF football program's 19-year existence.
In 1995, when University of St. Francis was a NCAA Division II member, the Fighting Saints ranked second in the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference in both total defense (305.0 yards per game) and rushing defense (152.8 yards per game).
Slovick earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Lewis University (Ill.) in 1971 and went on to receive a master's degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois University in 1974.
Slovick resides in Joliet and has a 26-year-old son, Shane.
Casson begins his first year at Saint Xavier and will work with the Cougar running backs. Prior to SXU, he served as head football coach at Bremen High School in Midlothian, Ill., from 2004-09 leading the team to a 28-21 record and three playoff appearances over the stretch.
Casson graduated and played football at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., from 1982-86 and is also a graduate of Rich South High School in Richton Park, Ill.
Casson lives in Plainfield with his wife, Laura. The couple have four children: Brian (current SXU player), Sam, Kevin and Caitlin. He also works for State Farm Insurance.
Gleeson is entering his ninth season at Saint Xavier and instructs the Cougar wide receivers. From 1994-98, he was the head football coach at Brother Rice High School. Gleeson still teaches full-time at Brother Rice in addition to serving as its head track coach since 1992.
Gleeson is a 1980 graduate of Illinois Benedictine College with degrees in physical education and history/education. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Illinois.
He lives in Oak Lawn with his wife, Mary Joan, his son, Thomas, and daughter, Jillian.
Lyons is in his ninth year at SXU after assisting the football program at University of St. Francis (Ill.) for 15 seasons as an administrative assistant and coach.
He graduated from Lewis University with a degree in political science and has completed graduate work in guidance and counseling at Northern Illinois University.
He resides in Mokena with his wife, Susan, and has three children, Kevin, Kerry and Colleen.
Watson enters his fifth season with the SXU football program and will command the defensive line in 2009. He was an assistant coach at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights from 2001-03.
Watson has had assistant coaching stints at high schools around the Chicago area, including Rich South, Marist and Joliet Township. He graduated from Marist and attended St. Norbert College (Wis.), where he earned his degree in history and played four years of football at outside linebacker.
Watson lives in Oak Lawn with his wife, Heather, and their two sons, Patrick and Brendan.
D’Ambrosio joined the Cougars' coaching staff in 2004, but has nearly 40 years of coaching experience. He was a 2003 inductee into the Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
Prior to SXU, D’Ambrosio was the head football coach at Bremen High School from 1982-2003. He led the Braves to nine conference championships and 12 state playoff appearances. In 1995, the UW-Whitewater and Mundelein grad was named Daily Southtown Football Coach of the Year.
D’Ambrosio resides in Oak Forest with his wife, Judy. They have five children: Dominic, Melissa, Christina, Lauren and Gregory as well as three grandchildren, Dominic (5), Nicholas (3) and Owen (1).
Badke is in his 11th season at SXU and will assist with the Cougar cornerbacks. Prior to coming to Saint Xavier, Badke served as a student assistant and defensive backs coach at University of St. Francis (Ill.) in 1996.
Badke earned a communications degree from USF in 1996 and is a full-time senior territory manager for Martin Whalen Office Solutions, Inc. He lives in Evergreen Park with his wife, Amy, and children, Mick, Bridget, Elizabeth and Jack.
Billy Miller - Tight Ends
Miller is in his seventh season with Cougar football after taking a year off in 2006. He will help lead the tight ends this season. Prior to working at SXU, Miller served as strength and conditioning coach at nearby NCAA Division I Chicago State University in 2002. He received his degree from CSU in recreation education in 1998.
Miller also works for the Chicago Fire Department and resides in Chicago with his wife, Karen, and their dog, Boo.
Schreiber enters his second season at SXU as the team's video coordinator after wrapping up a successful playing career in 2007. He was the right tackle for the Cougars from 2003-07 earning second team all-conference honors as a senior.
Schreiber graduated from SXU in 2008 with a degree in computer science and also works for the Deaton-Kennedy Company in Joliet.
