Detroit Country Day School is poised to re‑enter the Catholic High School League (CHSL) for football beginning with the 2025 season, ending a long stretch as an independent program and securing a more consistent schedule for its athletic teams.
A Homecoming for a Veteran Coach
Head coach Dan McLean, who has guided the Yellowjackets for nearly three decades, describes the transition as both a homecoming and a fresh challenge. He recalls his own playing days in the league at Brother Rice High School, adding a personal layer to the new chapter.
The roster features standout seniors such as tight end Anthony Cartwright, committed to Oregon, and receiver Jaidyn Martin, also bound for the Ducks. Junior defensive back Jacob Patton has already earned offers from Washington and Wisconsin, while two‑way lineman Connor Dienes is expected to anchor both sides of the line.
New Schedule, New Rivalries
The non‑league slate includes games against Saginaw Swan Valley, Redford Westfield Prep and Holt, giving the team a varied early-season test. The Yellowjackets open their CHSL campaign on September 11 with a home matchup against Dearborn Divine Child, a familiar rival that adds immediate stakes to the inaugural league season.
Coach McLean, who also serves as athletic director, stresses the importance of consistent local scheduling and the broader benefits the league will bring to all of the school’s sports programs, from basketball to baseball.
With Dearborn Divine Child and Jackson Lumen Christi already ranked ahead in the AA Division, Detroit Country Day views a division title as a realistic secondary goal while the primary objective remains a playoff berth. The move to the CHSL is not just about football; it extends to other sports, offering the school a unified competitive framework and more predictable travel plans.