It Runs in the Family: Rick and Tom Little to coach in state quarterfinals

QUINCY (WGEM) - Football has always been a family affair for Rick and Tom Little.

This Saturday, the brothers will lead their high school teams into Illinois state quarterfinal games, with each coaching a son on the field.

Rick Little is the head coach at Quincy High School, where his son Bryson is a junior quarterback. Tom Little coaches Brown County High School, where his son Beau is a junior running back.

The cousins grew up around the game, often competing against their older brothers, Bradyn and Vince.

“It was always a battle,” Beau Little said. “Me and Bryson vs. Bradyn and Vince, younger vs. older, so it was always fun.”

Rick Little remembers adding some production value to those family matchups.

“We’d have the coin toss and instant replays and all the things that as a dad you try to do to spice it up and have fun,” he said.

Now, even when the brothers are coaching on different sidelines, they keep tabs on each other’s teams.

“Sometimes I’ll have to ask the guys on the sideline, ‘Do you have a halftime score of the Quincy game?’” Tom Little said. “Because we’re interested and we’re happy for them and want to see them do well and have successful seasons.”

Brown County reached the state championship game last year. Bryson Little said the family knows not to make Thanksgiving plans too early: Playing for a state title is the goal from the start of the season.

Tom Little said he’s proud of what Beau and Bryson have accomplished.

“You’ve seen them grow from babies up to now,” he said. “And both of them have had exceptional seasons. So super proud of both of them and excited about their futures.”