Will County Gazette

Mike Dwyer has been named athletic director at his Lockport alma mater.

Dwyer returns to Lockport after serving 20 years as a teacher, coach, assistant athletic director and athletic director at Andrew in Tinley Park. He replaces Jim Prunty with the Porters.

“Sitting in the office today, I looked up and saw the sign that said, ‘Once a Porter, always a Porter,’ and I thought how perfect is that,” Dwyer told The Herald. “I walked the facilities and met with some of the coaches, and it was so awesome. I was very happy at Andrew; and obviously, there’s some outstanding people, and I was very grateful for the opportunities that I had. But when I found out about this, I talked to my wife, and she thought it was a great opportunity.”

Dwyer said his days at Lockport, where he played football and ran track at the school, are largely responsible for shaping him into the person he is today.

“The experiences that I had at Lockport as an athlete and as a student have led to the person that I became,” he said. “So to have the opportunity to do this job and to give back to the community is something that is really exciting for me.”

Dwyer’s return to Lockport reunites him with several individuals from his original time there, including Principal Dennis Hicks, who was his freshman football coach, and Tom Razo, whom he competed for in track and field, and who is still the coach that leads that program.

“Lockport has a great tradition and a great legacy already,” he told the Herald. “So to just be there and support the coaches, the student-athletes and the community, hopefully, I will be a part of the continuance of greatness and success both on and off the field.”

At Andrew, Dwyer served as assistant athletic director for 14 years under Hall of Fame Athletic Director Rich Piatchek, whom he credits with being a mentor and having a major influence on him.