Phil LaScala

When most people think of Lake Forest High School they think of the nice kids, great education, and established sports programs at the school. The school also boasts a number of well-known coaches such as Cindy Dell, Chuck Spagnoli, and debatably the toughest of them all–  Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Phil LaScala. On the inside, he’s a kind-hearted 5’ 7” soul, but for the people who really know him, he can be the antagonist in your worst nightmare.

For lower level basketball players he is undoubtedly the scariest man in the school. You can often find freshman taking long routes in the basement to avoid making eye contact with the Varsity Basketball coach. One false move in the hallway and it could jeopardize your playing time, even on the Freshman team.

One victim explained their encounter with the man himself.

“After showing up late to Business Entrepreneurship one day, Mr. LaScala made me do defensive slides from one side of the hallway to the another. He shouted at me to “keep my hands up” as I built up a solid sweat before 1st period had even started.”

Not only this, but many students didn’t even know he was a teacher at the school. No matter what period of the day it is, there’s a good chance you can find LaScala watching film in the Varsity Basketball team room. And for those who have him as a teacher, it isn’t out of the ordinary to find him sprinting in late to class after a long film session of last night’s game. On one specific morning, a sophomore girl allegedly saw him watching Evan Boudreaux’s high school mixtape.

LaScala declined to comment on the matter.

A graduate from Benet Academy in Lisle, Coach Phil loves to talk about his days as a high school point guard. And even if he wasn’t the tallest guy on the court, he made his teammates better with his playmaking ability. It was rumored that he once scored all 21 points in a pickup game with the freshman girls team. He volunteered himself to play and proceeded to post up- scoring on every play.

“Make it take it,” he barked at the girls after making his first basket.

LaScala’s competitive edge is unlike any other and he makes it known whether he’s on the sideline coaching, or reliving his glory days.