RDP

[One time Post]

Red Devil Pride didn’t just fade—it took its last breath around 7:30 p.m. last night.

A little over a year ago, the foundation started to crack. The decision to hire outside the “family” signaled a shift away from what made this place special. Longtime player and coach legend T.J. Lukasik saw it coming and chose to step away, heading north. That moment now feels less like a departure and more like a warning.

This was the final chance to keep the heart of RDP alive—by promoting someone who had lived it, built it, and believed in it for over two decades. Instead, that opportunity passed, and with it, a piece of the identity that once defined this program. This isn’t about discrediting anyone personally; it’s about recognizing that culture isn’t taught overnight. It’s lived, reinforced, and passed down by those who’ve been through the battles—who know what to say after the tough losses and how to carry the standard forward.

RDP stood for more than wins. It meant doing things the right way—on the field, in the classroom, and in the community—with homegrown kids who took pride in wearing the jersey. That identity is slipping. In its place, a different model is taking hold—one that prioritizes outside talent and short-term success over long-term culture.

You can already see it. Programs bringing in athletes from all over the region. Concerns raised, but quickly brushed aside. Success becomes the shield, and questions about how it’s built go unanswered. And it doesn’t stop there—the next domino will fall. Expect more hires tied to AAU and club pipelines, more emphasis on attracting talent than developing it.

“If you build it, they will come.” That may fill rosters and maybe even the stands. But will they understand what it means to be a Red Devil? Will they care?

There’s a difference between building a program and building a culture. One wins games. The other builds people.

Trying to pass a referendum while relying on kids from other towns to carry the Friday night atmosphere feels disconnected from what this community once was. The pride came from within. It was earned, not imported.

Maybe the future brings success on the scoreboard. But unless there’s a major shift in leadership and vision, it’s hard to see Red Devil Pride meaning what it once did.

Because RDP wasn’t just a chant.

It was a standard.

[Nutsy]

Sad obituary. The nutman is setting here with tears running down his face. No exaggeration here. RIP RDP.

Nut

[junior11]

How does a school board member”president” hire herself as the new AD and the rest of the board goes along with it?

[Jimbo23]

How does a school board member”president” hire herself as the new AD and the rest of the board goes along with it?

What happened here?

[NWI10]

RDP has been missing from Friday nights for awhile, really since Kennedy left. There were a couple good years that produced success but it wasn’t the same.

The new complex is beautiful.

Any thoughts on how the Devils will be this year?

[warrior]

Red Devil Pride didn’t just fade—it took its last breath around 7:30 p.m. last night.

A little over a year ago, the foundation started to crack. The decision to hire outside the “family” signaled a shift away from what made this place special. Longtime player and coach legend T.J. Lukasik saw it coming and chose to step away, heading north. That moment now feels less like a departure and more like a warning.

This was the final chance to keep the heart of RDP alive—by promoting someone who had lived it, built it, and believed in it for over two decades. Instead, that opportunity passed, and with it, a piece of the identity that once defined this program. This isn’t about discrediting anyone personally; it’s about recognizing that culture isn’t taught overnight. It’s lived, reinforced, and passed down by those who’ve been through the battles—who know what to say after the tough losses and how to carry the standard forward.

RDP stood for more than wins. It meant doing things the right way—on the field, in the classroom, and in the community—with homegrown kids who took pride in wearing the jersey. That identity is slipping. In its place, a different model is taking hold—one that prioritizes outside talent and short-term success over long-term culture.

You can already see it. Programs bringing in athletes from all over the region. Concerns raised, but quickly brushed aside. Success becomes the shield, and questions about how it’s built go unanswered. And it doesn’t stop there—the next domino will fall. Expect more hires tied to AAU and club pipelines, more emphasis on attracting talent than developing it.

“If you build it, they will come.” That may fill rosters and maybe even the stands. But will they understand what it means to be a Red Devil? Will they care?

There’s a difference between building a program and building a culture. One wins games. The other builds people.

Trying to pass a referendum while relying on kids from other towns to carry the Friday night atmosphere feels disconnected from what this community once was. The pride came from within. It was earned, not imported.

Maybe the future brings success on the scoreboard. But unless there’s a major shift in leadership and vision, it’s hard to see Red Devil Pride meaning what it once did.

Because RDP wasn’t just a chant.

It was a standard.

I agree with 99% of what was said, however, as a 33 year member of RDP I think I’ve earned the right to defend myself a little bit.

1. I was on the committee that hired Casey. With all facts and candidates being the same, I hire him again 10 out of 10 times. His resume and record of success was unmatched. And he kicked ass in the interview.
2. TJ did not apply for the HC position. If he did, he gets the job IMO with no interview committee necessary. That was certainly my hope.
3. Adam Hudak, a former Lowell player and coach, was one of three finalists along with a current staff member. Casey stood out. Period. I’ve talked to Adam and I think he understands my reasoning. If he doesn’t, that’s ok too, but I still respect the hell out of him as a person and coach. Maybe I’ll go watch whiting games from now on?

This next part is going to lose me some relationships. At one time or another I considered all of the people involved a friend, colleague, or both. But right is right and wrong is wrong and if those people hate on me for telling the truth, that says more about them than it does about me:

The hiring of the AD and Asst. AD positions is one of the most unethical decisions I’ve seen in 30+ years of education - and I’ve seen a lot. Essentially, the Board President, or the Supt, interjected her into the process and was hired along with the new Asst. AD with less than 3 years of varsity coaching between them and zero AD experience. How is it ethical to have a Board president interview for a job with 2 people who are technically her subordinates, the Supt. and Principal? How can they be objective (they can’t!)?

They supposedly had over 40 applications and chose two people with little to no experience over others, including the current Asst, Kilmer, with 20 plus years as a MS/HS AD along with decades of varsity coaching. My wife corresponded with the Supt. (I was too pissed to do it) and I spoke with a Board member. To put it plainly, their explanations were complete BS. Lastly, if I was a current Head Coach, I would tread lightly because they’re not done “cleaning house.” That is, except the wrestling coach who walks on water for reasons no one can fathom. Although, his program with 10 out of 14 kids living outside Lowell is successful. Sorry Lowell kids, the coach is trucking his own club team down from Portage and Lake Station to take your spots. As the Board says, we really need that tuition they each bring in because that will most definitely take care of our financial problems.

Sadly, I expect people in town will ***** for a week and then life will go on. What SHOULD happen is people need to ask questions, watch Board meetings and VOTE! There’s no way they looked thru 40 applications and said “let’s hire 2 inexperienced people, one of whom has a major conflict of interest.” The two hires were decided long before the interviews took place. Who has a two week timeline from applications to Board approval? shady, shady, shady.

As for RDP, in the words of Mark Smith, “that dog won’t hunt.” The two new AD’s are Lowell grads, so take that for what it is. I think they truly believe they are doing the right thing. Instead, what we have is more mistrust. Lowell can’t pass a referendum and recruiting kids who don’t live in Lowell to take spots of actual residents isn’t going to make up the financial shortfall. If Lowell has so much RDP, pass a referendum like every school corp. around us has done multiple times.

I’d like to think I was a small part of RDP, but I can’t see myself even going to watch a sporting event anymore. The memories I will cherish will be of teams who grew up here and played together. ONE TOWN, ONE TEAM. Hopefully, not gone forever.

Sincerely,
John Alessia
Retired 32 year educator and once proud 17 year employee of Lowell Schools
FORMER member of RDP and Voice of the Red Devils.

[paintballer]

Consumer culture leads to a world of people with no culture whose entire culture becomes materialistic. When real culture is replaced with the material then $$$ and status becomes what we chase.

Value your elders. Persevere your history/culture. It is the only way we can pull out of what everyone can see as societal decay.

[BallinFreak]

Red Devil Pride didn’t just fade—it took its last breath around 7:30 p.m. last night.

A little over a year ago, the foundation started to crack. The decision to hire outside the “family” signaled a shift away from what made this place special. Longtime player and coach legend T.J. Lukasik saw it coming and chose to step away, heading north. That moment now feels less like a departure and more like a warning.

This was the final chance to keep the heart of RDP alive—by promoting someone who had lived it, built it, and believed in it for over two decades. Instead, that opportunity passed, and with it, a piece of the identity that once defined this program. This isn’t about discrediting anyone personally; it’s about recognizing that culture isn’t taught overnight. It’s lived, reinforced, and passed down by those who’ve been through the battles—who know what to say after the tough losses and how to carry the standard forward.

RDP stood for more than wins. It meant doing things the right way—on the field, in the classroom, and in the community—with homegrown kids who took pride in wearing the jersey. That identity is slipping. In its place, a different model is taking hold—one that prioritizes outside talent and short-term success over long-term culture.

You can already see it. Programs bringing in athletes from all over the region. Concerns raised, but quickly brushed aside. Success becomes the shield, and questions about how it’s built go unanswered. And it doesn’t stop there—the next domino will fall. Expect more hires tied to AAU and club pipelines, more emphasis on attracting talent than developing it.

“If you build it, they will come.” That may fill rosters and maybe even the stands. But will they understand what it means to be a Red Devil? Will they care?

There’s a difference between building a program and building a culture. One wins games. The other builds people.

Trying to pass a referendum while relying on kids from other towns to carry the Friday night atmosphere feels disconnected from what this community once was. The pride came from within. It was earned, not imported.

Maybe the future brings success on the scoreboard. But unless there’s a major shift in leadership and vision, it’s hard to see Red Devil Pride meaning what it once did.

Because RDP wasn’t just a chant.

It was a standard.

I agree with 99% of what was said, however, as a 33 year member of RDP I think I’ve earned the right to defend myself a little bit.

1. I was on the committee that hired Casey. With all facts and candidates being the same, I hire him again 10 out of 10 times. His resume and record of success was unmatched. And he kicked ass in the interview.
2. TJ did not apply for the HC position. If he did, he gets the job IMO with no interview committee necessary. That was certainly my hope.
3. Adam Hudak, a former Lowell player and coach, was one of three finalists along with a current staff member. Casey stood out. Period. I’ve talked to Adam and I think he understands my reasoning. If he doesn’t, that’s ok too, but I still respect the hell out of him as a person and coach. Maybe I’ll go watch whiting games from now on?

This next part is going to lose me some relationships. At one time or another I considered all of the people involved a friend, colleague, or both. But right is right and wrong is wrong and if those people hate on me for telling the truth, that says more about them than it does about me:

The hiring of the AD and Asst. AD positions is one of the most unethical decisions I’ve seen in 30+ years of education - and I’ve seen a lot. Essentially, the Board President, or the Supt, interjected her into the process and was hired along with the new Asst. AD with less than 3 years of varsity coaching between them and zero AD experience. How is it ethical to have a Board president interview for a job with 2 people who are technically her subordinates, the Supt. and Principal? How can they be objective (they can’t!)?

They supposedly had over 40 applications and chose two people with little to no experience over others, including the current Asst, Kilmer, with 20 plus years as a MS/HS AD along with decades of varsity coaching. My wife corresponded with the Supt. (I was too pissed to do it) and I spoke with a Board member. To put it plainly, their explanations were complete BS. Lastly, if I was a current Head Coach, I would tread lightly because they’re not done “cleaning house.” That is, except the wrestling coach who walks on water for reasons no one can fathom. Although, his program with 10 out of 14 kids living outside Lowell is successful. Sorry Lowell kids, the coach is trucking his own club team down from Portage and Lake Station to take your spots. As the Board says, we really need that tuition they each bring in because that will most definitely take care of our financial problems.

Sadly, I expect people in town will ***** for a week and then life will go on. What SHOULD happen is people need to ask questions, watch Board meetings and VOTE! There’s no way they looked thru 40 applications and said “let’s hire 2 inexperienced people, one of whom has a major conflict of interest.” The two hires were decided long before the interviews took place. Who has a two week timeline from applications to Board approval? shady, shady, shady.

As for RDP, in the words of Mark Smith, “that dog won’t hunt.” The two new AD’s are Lowell grads, so take that for what it is. I think they truly believe they are doing the right thing. Instead, what we have is more mistrust. Lowell can’t pass a referendum and recruiting kids who don’t live in Lowell to take spots of actual residents isn’t going to make up the financial shortfall. If Lowell has so much RDP, pass a referendum like every school corp. around us has done multiple times.

I’d like to think I was a small part of RDP, but I can’t see myself even going to watch a sporting event anymore. The memories I will cherish will be of teams who grew up here and played together. ONE TOWN, ONE TEAM. Hopefully, not gone forever.

Sincerely,
John Alessia
Retired 32 year educator and once proud 17 year employee of Lowell Schools
FORMER member of RDP and Voice of the Red Devils.

Kudos to you for putting this out there in such a strong fashion.

Sad to hear what is going on at Lowell.

[BallinFreak]

Who is TJ that is referenced in point 2?

[Coach_Brett_Jennings]

There's a lot to digest in this thread but the one common theme is loyalty. We have become a high school sports culture of chasing championships and D1 offers, and for some coaches, the next job. And while it is competition and the goal is to win, the overall mission has nothing to do with winning. From my perspective, it's about developing good husbands, fathers, wives, moms, and productive members of our communities. There was a time when that stuff was valued by everybody but we've gotten away from that as a sports culture. I want my two young boys to play sports, not because I want them to go D1 or even to win a state championship, but rather the joys and pain of wins and losses. It's about being a good teammate, experiencing failure, waiting your turn, sitting the bench, but playing for the town you grew up in, with those you grew up with.

Schools have started to buy into that win-at-all-cost culture as well at the expense of those who have helped them get to their current level of success. In the example of Coach Kilmer, I don't know if he should have been the AD but my guess is he was more than capable of the job. And to be clear, I don't know either two individuals who were hired, I'm just speaking on what I see and hear from the outside. But Keith gave his heart and soul to RDP, helped create the culture and success there, and this is how he's repaid? I don't agree with it. Loyalty is the one of the few things you can control as a school system and when the word gets out that teachers/coaches are nothing but a cog in a machine, your school system will be nothing more than a turn-style for the next school. There are plenty of examples of those kinds of schools in NWI, all you have to do is look around.

On a final note, I appreciate Mr. Alessia's post and his willingness to put his name on something like that. The man was the literal voice of RDP and his words carry weight.

***Edited for several grammar mistakes***