COACHING STAFF 38 PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS 22 ALL-AMERICANS

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "COACHING STAFF 38 PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS 22 ALL-AMERICANS"

Emory Patterson
5 years ago
Views:

1 COACHING STAFF 38 PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS 22 ALL-AMERICANS Head Coach Dan Hartleb Assistant Coach Eric Snider Assistant Coach Ken Westray Volunteer Assistant Brett Herbison 16 Support Staff

15, 1966, IN HAMILTON, OHIO HAMILTON, OHIO FAMILY: WIFE, GINA; CHILDREN, ZAK AND HALEY EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL: HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL (1984) COLLEGE: JOHN A. LOGAN (A.S., 1986) SOUTHERN UNIV. (B.S., ADVERTISING, 1989) (M.

2 HEAD COACH DAN HARTLEB 2006 B ASEBALL Dan Hartleb begins his first season as head coach at Illinois and 16th season on the Illini coaching staff. Hartleb coached under Hall of Fame coach Richard Itch Jones for 17 years, two at Southern Illinois and 15 at Illinois. THE HARTLEB FEB. 15, 1966, IN HAMILTON, OHIO HAMILTON, OHIO FAMILY: WIFE, GINA; CHILDREN, ZAK AND HALEY EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL: HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL (1984) COLLEGE: JOHN A. LOGAN (A.S., 1986) SOUTHERN UNIV. (B.S., ADVERTISING, 1989) (M.S., HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, 1996) SOUTHERN GRADUATE ASSISTANT ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH HEAD COACH 2005-PRESENT After beginning his tenure at Illinois as the pitching coach, Hartleb earned the additional title of Associate Head Coach in 2001, coordinating many administrative duties associated with the Illini baseball program. Following the 2005 Big Ten Championship season, Jones retired and Hartleb was hired as only the 10th coach in 127 years of Illinois Baseball. During his time with the Illini, Hartleb has been instrumental in recruiting and developing 38 players who have signed minor league contracts, including seven in 2005, with six former Illini reaching the major leagues. In addition, 22 former players have earned All- America honors on 38 different teams and six Illini freshmen have been named to Freshmen All- America teams. Three of Hartleb s pitchers have been Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Illinois has produced three Big Ten Players of the Year, along with 24 first team All-Big Ten selections. As the pitching coach at Illinois, Hartleb produced an All-American pitcher in five of the last eight seasons and three of the last eight Pitchers of the Year in the Big Ten Conference. Brett Weber started the run when he earned All-America status and won Pitcher of the Year honors in 1998 and closer Jimmy Journell followed suit with All-America honors of his own in Jason Anderson picked up the streak in 2000, taking home both All-America and Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 14-3 record that season, and Andy Dickinson kept it alive with All-America honors in 2001 and 02 and Pitcher of the Year accolades in 01. But Hartleb has not simply been a pitching coach. He has also helped recruit and develop many top Illini players, including infielder Chris Basak, catcher Chris Robinson and infielder Bubba Smith. After three years under Hartleb s tutelage, Robinson became the highest-drafted position player in Illinois history when he was selected in the third round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Hartleb has sent a number of former Illini hurlers to the professional ranks following their collegiate careers. Weber, Anderson and Conroy all entered the New York Yankees farm system, and Anderson has spent the majority of the past three seasons in the big leagues with the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Cleveland Indians after spending only three years in the minors. HARTLEB AT A GLANCE At Illinois: 38 professional players 22 All-Americans Recognition on 38 All-America teams 6 Freshman All-Americans 3 Big Ten Players of the Year 3 Big Ten Pitchers of the Year 2 Big Ten Medal of Honor winners 24 first team All-Big Ten selections 76 All-Big Ten honorees 94 Academic All-Big Ten performers Career: 50 professional players 23 All-Americans 81 All-Conference selections 1 2

2006 B ASEBALL Jimmy Journell earned his first Major League appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003, less than three months after Anderson s bigleague debut.

3 2006 B ASEBALL Jimmy Journell earned his first Major League appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003, less than three months after Anderson s bigleague debut. Journell was the Cardinals 2001 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Mitch Walk, who was the Pitcher of the Year for the class- A San Jose Giants in 2001, pitched for Illinois from and advanced to Double-A Norwich in Matt Vorwald was drafted in the 7th round by the Minnesota Twins in June of Andy Dickinson was drafted by the Oakland A s in June of 2002 and advanced to the A s Double-A Midland RockHounds in Dave Mazurek and Justin Olson added their names to the list in 2003, as the former All-Big Ten closer signed a free agent deal with the Texas Rangers and Olson joined the Minnesota Twins organization. Mazurek played for the high class-a Lynchburg Hillcats, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, in 2005, and Olson pitched for the Minnesota Twins Double-A affiliate in Jimmy Conroy was drafted in the 19th round by the New York Yankees in 2005 and won a New York-Penn League title with the class-a Staten Island Yankees that fall. Other pros who have pitched under Hartleb at Illinois include 1999 Chicago Cubs draft pick Tim Lavery, 1998 Anaheim Angels signee Cody Salter, 1997 Houston Astros pick Brian Hecht, 1993 St. Louis Cardinals draftee Matt Arrandale and Mark Dressen, who holds Illinois career wins record. HARTLEB S CAREER COACHING RECORD Assistant Coach Year School Overall Conf. NCAA Postseason 1989 So. Illinois th-MVC 1990 So. Illinois st-MVC NCAA Regionals (2-2) 1991 Illinois th-Big Ten 1992 Illinois rd-Big Ten 1993 Illinois th-Big Ten 1994 Illinois th-Big Ten 1995 Illinois th-Big Ten 1996 Illinois nd-Big Ten 1997 Illinois rd-Big Ten 1998 Illinois st-Big Ten NCAA Regionals (3-2) 1999 Illinois rd-Big Ten 2000 Illinois rd-Big Ten NCAA Regionals (1-2) 2001 Illinois th-Big Ten 2002 Illinois th-Big Ten 2003 Illinois th-Big Ten 2004 Illinois th-Big Ten 2005 Illinois st-Big Ten Assistant Coaching Record (17 years) (.563) In NCAA Postseason (3 years) 6-6 (.500) At Illinois (15 years) (.559) At SIU (2 years) (.591) Hartleb, a former catcher himself, has also been instrumental in creating a catcher tradition at Illinois. In addition to Robinson s recent record-setting draft pick, catchers Patrick Arlis and Aaron Nieckula also had their names called during the two-day draft. Arlis was selected in the 11th round of the 2002 draft by the Florida Marlins, whose farm system he still plays in. Four years earlier, the Oakland A s took Nieckula in the 22nd round of the 1998 draft. In addition to developing Illinois batteries throughout the years, Hartleb has helped bring some of the top recruiting classes in the nation to Champaign in recent years. Anderson turned down a sixthround offer from the Kansas City Royals in 1997 to attend Illinois after being recruited by Hartleb, and James Morris, a 23rd-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005, turned down a draft offer from the Anaheim Angels in 2001 to do the same. Hartleb s 1994 recruiting class, which included the core of the 1998 Big Ten championship team, will also go in the books as one of the finest classes ever recruited to Illinois. Hartleb began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Southern Illinois University in A two-year letterwinner at SIU, Hartleb finished his playing career with a.305 batting average. As a senior, Hartleb appeared in 56 contests as a catcher. Hartleb transferred to Southern Illinois from John A. Logan Community College where he was a junior college all-star catcher. At Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio, Hartleb was a standout athlete in both baseball and football. He was inducted into Hamilton High School s Hall of Fame in February of A 1989 graduate of SIU with a B.S. in advertising, Hartleb received his M.S. in higher educational administration from SIU in May of He and his wife, Gina, were married in December, 1993, and reside in Champaign with their children, Zakary David and Haley Noel. 1 3

2006 B ASEBALL ERIC SNIDER THE SNIDER MAY 24, 1964, IN WATERLOO, IOWA WATERLOO, IOWA FAMILY: WIFE, HOLLY; CHILDREN, JACOB, NOA AND JENNA EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL: WATERLOO CENTRAL H.S. (1982) COLLEGE: KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (A.

COLTS MANAGER, 1992-93 AUSTIN PEAY STATE, 1992-95 WATERLOO BUCKS GENERAL MANAGER/ HEAD COACH 1995-98 1999-PRESENT Eric Snider is in his eighth year on the Illinois baseball staff following four

4 2006 B ASEBALL ERIC SNIDER THE SNIDER MAY 24, 1964, IN WATERLOO, IOWA WATERLOO, IOWA FAMILY: WIFE, HOLLY; CHILDREN, JACOB, NOA AND JENNA EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL: WATERLOO CENTRAL H.S. (1982) COLLEGE: KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (A.S., 1984) NORTHERN IOWA (B.S., PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND COACHING, 1987) AUSTIN PEAY STATE (M.S., HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, 1993) UNIVERSITY OFIOWA GRADUATE ASSISTANT, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY COLTS MANAGER, AUSTIN PEAY STATE, WATERLOO BUCKS GENERAL MANAGER/ HEAD COACH PRESENT Eric Snider is in his eighth year on the Illinois baseball staff following four seasons as the manager of the Waterloo (Iowa) Bucks. He handles hitting instruction and works with the Illini infielders and outfielders while directing the off-season conditioning program for the entire squad. Snider is also instrumental in recruiting for the Fighting Illini and is in charge of placing the Illini in summer leagues across the country. Snider s impact on the Illinois program was immediate both in recruiting and on the field. In his first recruiting season, Snider landed Freshman All-American first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer. Schutzenhofer went on to start every game but one in his four years, earning All-Big Ten honors all four years while playing his way into the career top 10 in 11 offensive categories. Schutzenhofer, who signed a free agent deal with the St. Louis Cardinals after the draft, was also Illinois recipient of the 2003 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor. In 2002, Snider brought in Drew Davidson, who went on to earn Freshman All-America honors of his own while leading the team in average, hits, home runs, total bases and slugging after turning down an offer from the St. Louis Cardinals after being drafted in June, Davidson then led the Illini to the 2005 Big Ten Championship, winning Big Ten Player of the Year honors along the way. Davidson finished his Illini career third on the all-time home runs list, sixth on the total bases list and seventh in career doubles. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 22nd round following the 2005 season. Snider found his third Freshman All-American in four recruiting classes in 2003, when Eric Eymann burst on the scene. Eymann hit.359 with a team-leading 15 doubles and 71 hits en route to Freshman All-America and second-team All-Big Ten honors. Another member of the 2003 class who Snider recruited was not as heralded initially, but catcher Chris Robinson became the highest-drafted position player in Illinois history when he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2005 draft. On the field, Illinois has consistently ranked among the conference s leaders in both hitting and fielding. In fact, the starting infield has posted fielding percentages of.960 ( 99),.965 ( 00),.959 ( 01),.968 ( 02),.957 ( 03),.967 ( 04) and.970 ( 05) for a seven-year average of.964, up more than 10 percentage points from the year prior to Snider s arrival. The Illini have also hit over.300 as a team in five of Snider s seven years with the team. In total, 14 position players have made the jump to professional baseball since Snider joined the Illinois staff. That list includes Jon Anderson, Chris Basak, Dan O Neill, Craig Marquie and D.J. Svihlik. Patrick Arlis joined that group in 2002 when the catcher signed with the Florida Marlins after being drafted by the club in the 11th round of the draft. Three Illini position players signed as free agents in 2003, as centerfielder Brandon Cashman inked a deal with the Texas Rangers, Sean Patrick signed with the Baltimore Orioles and Schutzenhofer became a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. However, 2005 was the most fruitful for Illini in the draft during Snider s tenure as five position players were either drafted or signed free agent contracts. Robinson, Davidson and shortstop Toby Gardenhire had their names called in the 2005 draft, while first baseman Dusty Bensko and leftfielder Ryan Rogowski inked free agent deals later in the summer. Prior to joining the Illini, Snider was the head coach and general manager of the Waterloo Bucks, a summer collegiate league team that competes in the Northwoods League, from He compiled a record of (.644) over the four years and was twice named Northwoods League Manager of the Year. Snider was honored in 2004 for his contribution to the NWL by being named to the NWL All-Decade team. A two-year letterwinner at the University of Northern Iowa, Snider finished his playing career with a.411 career batting average and 69 stolen bases in 72 attempts. He was a two-time all-conference selection. Snider transferred to Northern Iowa from Kirkwood Community College where he was a junior college All-American shortstop. Prior to accepting the coaching and general manager position at Waterloo, Snider held an assistant coaching position at Austin Peay State, was the field manager of the Champaign County Colts and was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Iowa. He earned a master of science degree in health and physical education from Austin Peay in December of Snider and his wife, Holly, reside in Champaign with their sons, Jacob and Noa and a daughter, Jenna. 1 4

2006 B ASEBALL KEN WESTRAY THE WESTRAY Ken Westray begins his first season with the Illini as pitching coach. He will handle the Illinois pitchers and recruiting.

He assisted with the development, both personally and athletically, of Phillies' minor league players from Canada, Japan, Korea, Latin America and the United States.

5 2006 B ASEBALL KEN WESTRAY THE WESTRAY Ken Westray begins his first season with the Illini as pitching coach. He will handle the Illinois pitchers and recruiting. Westray is a 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Phillies organization, working in the club's player development system. He assisted with the development, both personally and athletically, of Phillies' minor league players from Canada, Japan, Korea, Latin America and the United States. He also coached in the Florida Instructional League on three assignments. that organization from , reaching AA in Memphis, Tenn. He has also coached baseball at Elgin (Ill.) Community College, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College and Mesa (Ariz.) Community College in his career. MAY 7, 1959, IN CLINTON, ILL. CLINTON, ILL. EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL: CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL (1977) COLLEGE: EASTERN UNIVERSITY (B.S., SPECIAL EDUCATION, 1983) INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY (M.S., PHYSICAL EDUCATION, 1987) His connections within the majors will also be of benefit to the Illini, as Westray is in constant communication with professional colleagues employed in the scouting, development and major league levels of multiple professional organizations. Westray also assisted in the management of over 700 professional games and coordinated individual player development plans for athletes. While he was in player development with the Phillies, Westray coached such current Major League pitchers as Minnesota Twins starter Carlos Silva, Houston Astros starter Ezequiel Astacio, Phillies starters Brett Myers, Randy Wolf and Robinson Tejeda and Phillies relievers Ryan Madson and Eude Brito. Westray also worked a full season with firstround draft picks Gavin Floyd, a right-hander, and Cole Hamels, a left-hander, who were both selected out of high school. ELGIN (ILL.) COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1984 INDIANA STATE GRADUATE ASSISTANT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Westray also has valuable college coaching experience from his stint as an assistant coach at Indiana State from During that time, he helped guide the Sycamores to the 1986 College World Series, three NCAA regional appearances and Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships in 1986 and A graduate of Eastern Illinois University in 1983, Westray holds a B.S. in special education and earned an M.S. in physical education from Indiana State in He grew up in nearby Clinton, Ill PRESENT Following his career at Eastern Illinois, Westray was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round and played in 1 5

6 2006 B ASEBALL VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT BRETT HERBISON THE HERBISON JUNE 13, 1977, IN ELGIN, ILL. ELGIN, ILL. PLAYING EXPERIENCE: NEW YORK METS VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 2005-PRESENT Brett Herbison enters his second year with the Illini as a volunteer assistant, working primarily with the pitching staff. Herbison helped direct an Illinois staff that was one of the best in the Big Ten in 2005, as Brian Blomquist led the league with 10 wins and Jimmy Conroy was fifth in ERA with a 3.10 mark. Blomquist also finished second in the Big Ten with 102 innings pitched and Conroy s 93 innings placed him fifth. Illinois was the only staff to have two hurlers in the conference top five in innings pitched and wins. The Burlington, Ill., native has also helped strengthen the Illini bullpen. Aaron Saving had Illinois best ERA in relief with a 3.38 mark in 45 1/3 innings, and Jake Toohey notched five saves and a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings. Already, Herbison has two major league draft picks on his résumé, as Conroy was selected in the 19th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, and reliever James Morris was taken in the 23rd round. Before joining the Illini staff, Herbison was a starting pitcher for eight years in the New York Mets minor league organization. He was named a top prospect in both the Mets organization and the major leagues by many baseball publications. In the fall of 1994, Herbison signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Illinois, but was drafted 48th overall and was the Mets second pick in the 1995 draft. Herbison, a Gatorade/USA Today All-American, joined the Mets after graduating from Burlington Central High School in 1995, where he was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball. In addition to his standout baseball career, he was a two-time All-State hoopster. Herbison was named to the Appalachian League All-Star team in 1996, only his second year as a professional. He also finished the 1998 season with 26 consecutive scoreless innings, leading his team to a Florida State League championship. In all, he was a part of three minor league championships. But Herbison s career was cut short by two reconstructive arm surgeries and he was forced out of the game. For his achievements, Herbison was the inaugural inductee to the Burlington Central Athletic Hall of Fame. Born on June 13, 1977, the Elgin, Ill., native is currently enrolled in the College of Business at Illinois. He resides in Champaign. BASEBALL SUPPORT STAFF DANA BRENNER Associate Director of Athletics JAMES MORTON Assistant Athletic Director/Event Mgmt STEVE BODE Equipment Manager LENNY WILLIS Facility Management SHARI CLAPP Academic Advisor BEN TAYLOR Sports Information MATT SIMEONE Marketing and Promotions MATT FITTERER Athletic Trainer NICK RYAN Strength and Conditioning LINDA MICHAEL Baseball Secretary 1 6

Head Coach Dan Hartleb Associate Head Coach Eric Snider Assistant Coach Ken Westray Volunteer Assistant Coach Drew Dickinson..

Head Coach Dan Hartleb Associate Head Coach Eric Snider Assistant Coach Ken Westray Volunteer Assistant Coach Drew Dickinson.. Head Coach Dan Hartleb............. 50-51 Associate Head Coach Eric Snider......... 52 Ken Westray............. 53 Volunteer Drew Dickinson.. 54 Manager Michael Schroeder.............. 54 Manager Tom Kirby....................