Lincoln-Way East Coaches Inducted into Hall of Fame

FRANKFORT, IL — Two beloved Lincoln-Way East coaches have secured their spots in school history.

On Friday, October 21, at the Lincoln-Way East home varsity football game, Coach Linda Vivona and Coach Brian Papa were inducted into the Lincoln-Way East Staff Hall of Fame.

Coach Vivona led the Girls Volleyball team at Lincoln-Way East from its inaugural season in 2001 through fall of 2015. During that time, Vivona’s teams tallied two Conference Championships, seven Regional Titles and three Sectional Titles. Her teams won 344 matches in her 15 years as head coach, as well as over 700 wins in her career. Vivona also spearheaded many other events with the volleyball program, such as Volley for the Cure, Faculty Appreciation Night and gift exchanges with opposing teams.

Coach Brian Papa also started coaching at Lincoln-Way East in 2001. During that time, he coached Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer. Papa finished out his head coaching career at Lincoln-Way East in the spring of 2016 with the Girls Soccer program. In his boys and girls soccer coaching career, he accumulated 16 Conference Championships, 39 Regional Championships and 11 State appearances resulting in four second-place finishes and a State Championship in 1993.

“Coach Vivona and Coach Papa committed countless hours and endless energy building their programs from the opening of Lincoln-Way East,” said Athletic Director Mark Vander Kooi. “Their dedication was tremendous and we are grateful for it. Along with great success were the life lessons and commitment to strong academics that student-athletes learned by participating in their programs.”

Photo provided by Lincoln-Way District 210