"The power to become whatever and whomever you decide, and the realization that you actually have this power, is one of the greatest gifts a person can give to themselves"

Bio

It was February of 1974 when a completely unknown young gymnast, Kirk Mango, made a choice that would change the direction of his life and send him on an intense journey of self discovery and accomplishment. His efforts would culminate in a State Championship, a high school All-American award, and a full scholarship to compete in gymnastics at the NCAA Division I level for Northern Illinois University. What was most surprising and unbelievable about this was not only the achievement itself, but the fact that he did it in just one year-something nobody thought possible. For Kirk, it was the starting point of a career that has brought him numerous other awards and honors, first as an athlete, then as a coach and teacher.

A collegiate Division I National Champion and gold medalist on the still rings in 1979, Kirk had to defeat several Olympians to garner this honor. He was awarded commendations from the mayor of Dekalb, Illinois and from Northern Illinois University for high achievement and contribution to the City of Dekalb and to the University. The previous year Kirk had won the silver medal on this event in the 1978 Division I National Championships, losing the gold medal by a mere one-tenth of a point. He was selected as a collegiate All-American in both 1978 and 1979 and to the present day still holds the Northern Illinois University school record for the still rings event. Kirk's accomplishments, along with his many other regional, dual-meet, and invitational championships (including the prestigious Windy City and Midwest Open), gave rise to his nickname, "The Lord of the Rings."

In 2000, he was selected to the Northern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame; there, his photograph hangs on the wall with some of the most prestigious athletes ever to attend and compete for Northern Illinois University. His most recent accolades include being chosen in 2009 as No. 8 of the Top 50 Athletes of All Time competing for NIU, induction into Willowbrook High School’s Inaugural Hall of Fame (with professional athlete greats, former Chicago Bears Tom Hicks, Cleveland Browns Matt Roth, former Philadelphia Phillies World Series pitcher Dan Schatzeder, and Milwaukee Brewers Jody Gerut), and induction into Northern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame for a second time in October of 2010.

Kirk graduated NIU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in education and in 1992 received his Master of Administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He has been teaching high school students for 30+ years and has coached student athletes for 17 of those years.

"The power to become whatever and whomever you decide, and the realization that you actually have this power, is one of the greatest gifts a person can give to themselves"

Coaching Accomplishments

Kirk's ability to translate his athletic and academic experience and knowledge into real-life results for others is shown in the success of the athletes and teams under his direction. He has coached girls' gymnastics teams to three conference championships, four regional championships, one sectional championship and three Elite-Eight IHSA (Illinois High School Association) state championship competitions.

Not only have his teams been successful, but he has also coached numerous individuals to IHSA state competitions. The most prestigious of his winners, Stephanie Grygiel, won the IHSA State Championship on the vault in 1991 and earned a second place finish in both the all-around and the vault in the subsequent season. Under coach Mango's direction, Stephanie went on to earn herself high school All-American honors, selection as a key member of the state of Illinois gymnastics team that won the NHSGG (National High School Girls Gymnastics) Championships in 1992, and a full ride scholarship to Western Michigan University for gymnastics. Most recently (2004), and with coach Mango by her side, she was the first female gymnast ever inducted into the Downers Grove South High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

About Kirk's coaching, Stephanie wrote:

"I was not always confident in my abilities. A modest athlete, I did not believe in my talents. I needed to be pushed, pushed further beyond the point when most coaches would have lost interest. Coach Mango never gave up...Maybe Coach Mango was so tough because he knew I could do more and reach higher. He helped me learn that potential could be limitless, that anything is possible. He told me many times that I was capable of earning a state championship and I never believed him-until it happened."

Kirk's success as a coach made possible his selection by his peers as the IHSA Girls' Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1992 and gave him the opportunity to coach the Illinois state gymnastics team, mentioned above, which won the NHSGG Championships that year.

"The power to become whatever and whomever you decide, and the realization that you actually have this power, is one of the greatest gifts a person can give to themselves"

Raising Athletes

Kirk and his wife, Christine, have raised two talented athletic daughters. While Kirk will not take credit for his daughters' self-directed achievements, he provided them with a support system aligned with his core beliefs and principles. Both daughters overcame personal adversity and garnered college scholarships to compete at the collegiate Division I level for their respective sports.

The oldest, a soccer player, prevailed over two serious injuries, a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) of the knee in her sophomore year and severe ligament tears of the ankle in her senior year, to earn her scholarship. Both injuries required surgery and extensive rehabilitation to enable her to regain her competitive form. As of this writing, she is a starting defender in soccer for Marquette University (ranked 11th nationally in 2005).

The youngest daughter chose a different path, electing to focus her athletic prowess and small 5'4" athletic frame in volleyball, which is normally considered a tall person's sport-especially at the higher levels of competition. Even with those cards stacked against her, she was able to earn a starting position on her high school varsity volleyball team as a sophomore and help her team earn the school's first IHSA State Championship as a junior. She became captain of her team in her senior year and developed into the first defensive player in Illinois history to earn Volleyball Player of the Year from the Chicago Sun Times and Naperville Sun, as well as captain of the Daily Herald All-Area Volleyball team-all in one season. No less amazing was her ability to earn a starting role for the prestigious Sports Performance Volleyball Club on their 18-Elite team as a junior in high school (this club has garnered 59 AAU & USAV National Titles over the last 25 years). She became one of two captains for this team in her senior year and helped lead them to an AAU National Championship and an 18 open division USAV National Championship in 2007, garnering an All-American award for herself in both competitions. As a freshman attending the University of Louisville on a volleyball scholarship (ranked 11th nationally in 2005), she has already earned herself a starting role.

Finally, both Kirk's daughters have been selected as J. Kyle Braid national award winners; the foundation was established to help develop true leaders among high-school age athletes and train them to lead the battle against the peer pressure behind drinking, drug use and other conduct that puts teens at risk.

"The power to become whatever and whomever you decide, and the realization that you actually have this power, is one of the greatest gifts a person can give to themselves"

Classroom Achievements

Kirk's achievements in the classroom include being twice selected as DuPage County Physical Education Teacher of the Year. He was also nominated for and awarded the Eastern Illinois Teacher Excellence Award. Kirk has also been an inaugural and continuous member of his high school's Wellness Day Committee, whose sole purpose is to promote and develop healthy choices for teens through an annual wellness day fair, which includes activities and demonstrations to help encourage healthy lifestyles among students. Kirk has also been a member of the IAHPERD (Illinois Association of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance), which is dedicated to the promotion of the quality of life through fitness and wellness.

As an educator, Mango is on the front lines when it comes to student and young athlete attitudes, behavior and trends. The sum of his knowledge and experience, coupled with his daily contact with kids and teens, gives rise to his passionate belief that there is so much more for today's kids to achieve-and it is his intention, through this book, to help show them the way.

"The power to become whatever and whomever you decide, and the realization that you actually have this power, is one of the greatest gifts a person can give to themselves"

Honors & Awards

Kirk Mango is a two-time Division I All-American and a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier. The "Lord of the Rings" won a National Championship on the still rings in 1979, defeating [Olympian] Indiana State's Kurt Thomas on April 7. Mango placed second on the still rings as a junior in 1978 and 14th as a frosh in 1976. His national title in 1979 was the second title for NIU in Division I gymnastics. He shared the team MVP award on the team that went 11-0-1 and ranked as high as No. 7 for Hall of Fame coach Chuck Ehrlich in 1978-79.

• Selected as #8 on NIU Top 50 All Time Best Athletes (Northern Star)
• Two-time Northern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame Member (2000, 2010)
• National Champion - Division I
• Two-time Collegiate All-American
• MVP on 11-0-1 team that was ranked as high as 7th nationally (1978-79)
• Current Northern Illinois University Record Holder
• Certificate of Significant Athletic Contribution from Northern Illinois University
• Mayoral Commendation of Achievement - DeKalb, Illinois
• High School State Champion
• High School All-American
• Willowbrook High School Inaugural Hall of Fame Member (2010)
• Head Coach: Three Illinois Elite 8 Gymnastics Teams
• Selected Illinois Gymnastics "Coach of the Year" 1992
• Father of two Division I Scholarship Athletes - Volleyball & Soccer (Both - J. Kyle Braid Leadership Award Winners, http://jkbranch.org/aboutUs.html)
• Assistant Coach: National All-American Team Award 1983-84
• Two-time Physical Education Teacher of the Year
• Head Coach: 1992 Illinois Gymnastics Team Champions at the National High School Girls Gymnastics Championships
• Head Coach: High School - State Champion, All-American, Hall of Fame Inductee