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Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association

IHSBCA History

The first meeting of baseball coaches to organize the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association took place in 1965. Jay Sanders of Highland Park High School was the first President and Ron Klein of New Trier High School was the first Vice-President. The first Executive Board Members were Jack Kaiser of Oak Park-River Forest High School, Jim Phipps of Niles High School, and Claire Lossin of Riverside Brookfield High School. Other significant coaches involved in the formation of the IHSBCA included Ken McGonagle of Evanston High School and Jack Mallory of Waukegan High School.

The organization was originally formed to allow seniors that were left off of American Legion rosters an opportunity to play in the summer. This was sanctioned by the IHSA.

At the time, Les Miller, the Head Baseball Coach of The University of Illinois at Chicago was holding annual clinics for coaches. He agreed to share his clinic with the IHSBCA. Thus, the birth of our present day coaches clinic. The first clinic was held at Oak Park-River Forest High School. Since then, many high school and college coaches have contributed to the success and growth of our clinics.

One of the first actions of the IHSBCA was to petition the IHSA to have the 16-game limit for public schools increased. With the support of the Principals, Ron Klein and Marty Wiora of Benet Academy got the schedule expanded to 25 dates, of which ten of those dates could be doubleheaders. As it stands today, all member teams of the IHSA can play 35 total games, with no doubleheader stipulations.

The first Hall of Fame banquet was hosted in 1978. The initial inductees were All Budde of Belleville High School, Guy Cartwright of North Chicago High School, George Fencl of Morton High School, Martin McCarty of North Shore County Day High School, Jim Phipps of Niles High School, Ed Papciak of Lane Tech High School, Ed Stonebock of Peoria Manual High School, and Jack Kaiser.

Today our organization boasts over 1,000 members, we select an All-Area

team and an All-State team, our convention continues to grow in attendance and quality speakers, and we try to be an integral influence on the IHSA in all matters related to Illinois High School Baseball.

IHSBCA PRESIDENTS

  • 1965 Jay Sanders, Highland Park High School
  • 1966 Jay Sanders, Highland Park High School
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1969
  • 1970 Jack Kaiser, Oak Park-River Forest High School
  • 1971 Jack Kaiser, Oak Park-River Forest High School
  • 1972 Jim Phipps, Niles West High School
  • 1973 Jim Phipps, Niles West High School
  • 1974 Ron Klein, New Trier High School
  • 1975 Ron Klein, New Trier High School
  • 1976 Ron Mellen, Sandburg High School
  • 1977 Ron Mellen, Sandburg High School
  • 1978 Ed Puck, Hinsdale South High School
  • 1979 Ed Puck, Hinsdale South High School
  • 1980 Ron Guagenti, Rich East High School
  • 1981 Mike Kincannon, Addison Trail High School
  • 1982 Marty Wiora, Benet Academy
  • 1983 Marty Wiora, Benet Academy
  • 1984 Don Kuehner, Marist High School
  • 1985 Don Kuehner, Marist High School
  • 1986 Dave Lindley, Hinsdale South High School
  • 1987 Larry Pohlman, Prospect High School
  • 1988 Larry Pohlman, Prospect High School
  • 1989 Bill Seiple, Naperville Central High School
  • 1990 Bill Seiple, Naperville Central High School
  • 1991 Frank Eccles, Thornton High School
  • 1992 Frank Eccles, Thornton High School
  • 1993 Paul Groot, Schaumburg High School
  • 1994 Paul Groot, Schaumburg High School
  • 1995 Tom Johnson, Bremen High School
  • 1996 Tom Johnson, Bremen High School
  • 1997 John Wendell, Buffalo Grove High School
  • 1998 John Wendell, Buffalo Grove High School
  • 1999 Jim Hall, Lockport High School
  • 2000 Jim Hall, Lockport High School
  • 2001 Dan Hogan, Glenbard East High School
  • 2002 Dan Hogan, Glenbard East High School
  • 2003 Len Asquini, St. Charles High School
  • 2004 Len Asquini, St. Charles High School
  • 2005 Mike Riley, Glenbard South High School
  • 2006 Mike Riley, Glenbard South High School
  • 2007 Jeff Bonebrake, Benet Academy
  • 2008 Jeff Bonebrake, Benet Academy
  • 2009 Jeff Bonebrake, Benet Academy
  • 2010 Dan Schoessling, Wheaton North High School
  • 2011 Dan Schoessling, Wheaton North High School
  • 2012 Dan Schoessling, Wheaton North High School
  • 2013 Don Sutherland, Cary Grove High School
  • 2014 Don Sutherland, Cary Grove High School
  • 2015 Don Sutherland, Cary Grove High School
  • 2016 Paul Belo, Palatine High School
  • 2017 Paul Belo, Palatine High School
  • 2018 Paul Belo, Palatine High School
  • 2019 Brian Wujcik, Richards High School
  • 2020 Brian Wujcik, Richards High School
  • 2021 Brian Wujcik, Richards High School
  • 2022 Kyle Nelson, Burlington Central High School
  • 2023 Kyle Nelson, Burlington Central High School
  • 2024 Kyle Nelson, Burlington Central High School
  • 2025 Lee Milano, Nazareth Academy
  • 2026 Lee Milano, Nazareth Academy
  • 2027 Lee Milano, Nazareth Academy