HI-FIVE MT. PROSPECT, IL
WELCOME 2 (larger)
keep kids active, moving, involved and engaged
Hi-Five Sports Club Mt. Prospect launched Jan 2017 as the 8th franchise. The business is headed by Ian Thomas who has been enriching the lives of children for nearly two decades.
Hi-Five uses sports as a tool to promote positive character in our youth through our coaching. We coach behavior first and instill a specific behavior that is expected in all of our programs. When children come to Hi-Five in Mount Prospect, they understand what is expected of them and how they should act. Our coaches create a safe and fun environment. We use positive reinforcement with all of our coaches and help children understand the “why” when playing sports. We are a low pressure sports environment without the yelling and screaming. We want to turn kids onto sports, and not off. We use sports for kids entertainment and keep kids active, moving, involved and engaged.
OUR TEAM
Ian Thomas grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois and attended Maine West High School where he lettered in 3 different sports. He attended Carthage College where he lettered and played college football. Ian then transferred to North Park University where he lettered on the football team and received his Bachelors Degree in Physical Education. Ian resides in Hoffman Estates with his two children, Easton and Aria.
Ian began coaching when he was 21 years old at Chicago Academy where he coached the Sophomore girls basketball team the first year. He then moved to coaching the Varsity Boys Basketball team the following two years. Ian then received a teaching position at Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, Illinois where he taught Physical Education for 5 years. During these years he coached at Deerfield High School for 4 years and helped the varsity team earn back to back regional championships. He coached at New Trier for a few years where he helped the Freshman Football teams. Ian spent those 5 years at Christian Heritage coaching their soccer teams and track teams at the Middle School level. In 2012 Ian led the Maine East Freshmen team to a CSL conference championship. He then took a teaching position in Waukegan Illinois where he taught at Jack Benny Middle School where he taught Physical Education and Health. While teaching in Waukegan, he coached the varsity Football and Boys Basketball teams. Ian then took a Physical Education job at Gavin South Middle School in Fox Lake, and coached the freshmen football team at Grant High School. In 2016, he led the Grant Football team to a 9-0 record. He most recently coached the 6th grade boys basketball team at Caruso Middle School in Deerfield.
Ian is known to be one of the best coaches in the area in developing talent in football and basketball. His experience with sports brings a lot to the table. He understands that kids want to know how much you care, before they know how much you know. And he forms his coaching philosophy around that mentality. Ian is excited to continue to build relationships with the youth in the Northwest suburbs of Illinois and partner with parents.
Sam Wright is from Geneva, Illinois and is extremely excited and blessed to be coaching young athletes of all different ages at Hi-Five Sports. After graduating from Geneva Community High School, Sam was offered to play baseball at Marian University in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin, but after one year, transferred to be a pitcher at Lakeland University where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management, a minor in Psychology and an emphasis in Coaching. Sam worked with young athletes throughout college through volunteering his time do be a coach at winter baseball camps.
Sam has had an extreme passion for coaching and becoming a positive role model in young athlete’s eyes and he began his coaching career in 2013 by becoming a volunteer coach for a 12u travel organization. Since then, he has coached for a number of travel organizations with an age range from 9u to 17u and this experience has only helped him become a stronger coach. When he has free time, Sam enjoys fishing, golfing, and spending time with his family!
Sam is very excited to share his love and knowledge of sports with the young kids at Hi-Five and strives to make them better athletes on and off the field!
Sports have always been a passion of mine. I love the competition aspect while enjoying the element of fun as well. I am a Rolling Meadows High School alumni where I played and captained the football team, in addition to playing basketball for a few years. I am currently studying Broad-field Social Studies Education at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in hopes of becoming a history teacher in a secondary setting.
I will be starting my sixth year this summer at Hi-Five Sports and my first as the director. I love how Hi-Five combines my love of sports and passion of education. Watching the kids becoming better athletes and grow as people is one of the most rewarding experiences of this job. As a Mt. Prospect native, I love giving back to the community through mentoring the campers.
Coach Devo, A Rolling Meadows High School Alum and football student-athlete, has dedicated the past 4 years to the development of the Hi-Five Sports Programs and mentoring our campers of all ages. He has been a lead coach for our Summer Camps in the All-Star and Legend Divisions over the past two years. He plans to graduate from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse this May with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in hopes to continue bridging the gap between child development and sports/ physical activities.