GHS Football 2025: Building momentum under Coach Hickey

Former Galesburg High School girls basketball coach Evan Massey shares his insights on the game and other topics through his Massey Basketball blog, now featured here on WGIL.

Shawn Hickey is starting his second season as the Silver Streak varsity head coach. It is actually the first season where he has been able to run an entire off-season program in preparation for the 2025 season.

I honestly could not tell you what the Streaks will be doing in terms of X/O’s- what their offense or what their defense will be this coming season. I still get over to GHS often enough to see from a distance what is going on in the athletic program. My quick takes on what Coach Hickey has brought to GHS football:

STRENGTH AND SPEED SCHOOL- The football program is one of many GHS teams that has gone together to make a year ‘round commitment to the weight room and to developing more athleticism.

INCREASING NUMBERS- A weakness of the football program has been getting necessary numbers out for the sport. Coach Hickey and his staff have worked to get more athletes to play football. Other coaches at GHS are working to get athletes to become multi-sport athletes.

CULTURE AND BONDING- Football is working to develop a foundation of the program based on positive culture of being tougher together.

I asked Coach Shawn Hickey to share what has gone on this summer:

Massey– How was your turn out for summer football?

Coach Hickey- Turnout was good, we had between 55-60 most days.

Massey– What was the general outline for the summer program?

Coach Hickey- June is mostly lifting and Speed School. By the end of June we started OTA’s (Organized Team Activity) and we had a 7on7 in Rock Island. We start offensive and defensive installs during OTA’s.

Massey– What has been your emphasis this summer?

Coach Hickey- We approach OTA’s like we are teaching concepts for the first time. Even though varsity players know what we are doing, the underclass players are learning everything new.

Massey– Do you feel good about your returning veterans to the roster?

Coach Hickey- Our returning seniors need to be impact players and we have added more juniors and seniors to the roster.

Massey– Going into your second season, are there changes that you are emphasizing for this year?

Coach Hickey- We are not changing styles but we are building on our culture changes implemented last year and this offseason. Players have bought into our team building and community service.

Massey– What excites you about the upcoming season?

Hickey- I am excited by the growth of this team physically, mentally and how we’ve grown together as a team.

Massey– What are some of your goals for this upcoming season?

Coach Hickey- Our goals are always to improve program numbers, maintain player retention, keep players safe and make the playoffs.

Massey– Is your staff set for the upcoming season?

Coach Hickey- The staff is set. We went from seven coaches last season to 11 coaches this season. We also have eight coaches at the junior high level.