After Parting Ways with Rolling Meadows High School, Robbie Gould Named Head Coach at St. Viator

Robbie Gould was named the next football coach at Saint Viator High School on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, about one week after leaving Rolling Meadows High School as head coach. Gould begins his new role immediately, according to St. Viator. The new St. Viator head coach, and former star placekicker for the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers met immediately with the Saint Viator football players and released a statement.

“I am both honored and excited to be joining Saint Viator High School, an institution with a storied tradition of excellence both on and off the field. Creating a family atmosphere within our football program is of utmost importance to me. I believe in players supporting one another and striving for collective success. Our journey to greatness will begin together!”

— Robbie Gould, Head Coach Football St Viator

“I am excited to welcome Coach Gould and his family to Saint Viator. When we began our search, we were looking for a coach who understands our Viatorian mission, who is able to navigate the landscape of high school football, and who possesses the necessary skills to successfully develop our players athletically, academically, and emotionally well into the future.”

— Ryan Aiello, Saint Viator President

Gould, who retired from the NFL in 2022, was a star placekicker and retired as tenth highest-scoring NFL player of all-time. He played with the Chicago Bears from 2005 to 2015, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2006. Gould played eleven seasons with the Chicago Bears and six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, part of the time playing with Rolling Meadows High School graduate Jimmy Garoppolo.

Coach Gould told the Saint Viator administration; “thank you for the opportunity to learn here; I look forward to building upon the legacy and guiding our student athletes to achieve their fullest potential. Let’s work tirelessly to make this esteemed community proud!”

Saint Viator plans host a press conference on December 12, 2024 at 2:45pm in the Cahill Gym to formally introduce Robbie Gould as the new Head Football Coach.

A Poorly Kept Secret
One week ago, according Sports Mockery — a digital sports publisher and sports rumor website specializing in Chicago sports — Robbie Gould was under serious consideration as the head coach after parting ways with Rolling Meadows High School in early December 2024.

Erik Lambert of Sports Mockery reported on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 that former Chicago Bears Safety Tom Zbikowski, who teaches at St. Viator, was recruiting Robbie Gould to join St. Viator’s football program.

Zbikowski and Gould were teammates on the Chicago Bears in 2013, but only while Zbikowski was signed on with the Chicago Bears from March 23, 2013 until was released during training camp on August 25, 2013. Zbikowski was a Safety with the Bears and Baltimore Ravens (2008-2011) during his career. Also, Gould was signed on with the Baltimore Ravens in 2005, but was not a season player, and instead joined the Chicago Bears in 2005.

Zbikowski is also a former Golden Gloves boxer, and graduated from Buffalo Grove High School as a star quarterback and defensive back. According to Sports Mockery, Robbie Gould wasn’t given much sway at District 214’s Rolling Meadows –a public high school. According to Sports Mocker, Gould is anticipating more control and resources at St Viator — a private high school.

More Resources for Gould?
St. Viator football resources may involve a new football stadium on the St. Viator property. The big development plans for an upgrade to St. Viator athletic fields were presented to the Village of Arlington Heights Conceptual Plan Review Committee on November 9, 2022, and include a lighted playing field with grandstands on the St. Viator property. However the plans are in pre-application status with the Village of Arlington Heights in 2024.

Zoning variations required include …

80’ tall light poles where maximum height is restricted to 40′,

25’ tall safety netting where code restricts the maximum height of fences in an exterior side yard and rear yard to 6’ in height,

allowance of only 442 parking spaces where 960 parking spaces are required (this is a
preliminary calculation and subject to further review upon submission of detailed plans), and

possible additional zone variations.

There was no mention of traffic studies or location of driveway access to new parking areas in the initial plan review.

There is a large amount of vacant property at the Clerics of St Viator south of the high school property, but there is no mention of the availability of Clerics of St Viator property, or access of new driveways at Euclid Avenue to offset potential overload on Dryden Avenue.

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