BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services
CARTERVILLE – John A. Logan College softball coach Bruce Jilek has never been one to seek accolades, but he will earn yet another one next week when Herrin High School officials name the new softball field at the Harrison-Bruce Sports Complex on Bandyville Road after the former Tigers coach.
The field dedication is set for Friday, April 12th immediately after the Tigers’ scheduled 4:30 p.m. home game with Benton.
After a successful career as softball coach at Herrin High School Bruce Jilek is now head softball coach at John A. Logan College. Jilek is a Franklin County native and a graduate of Benton High School.
“It’s kind of a humbling experience,” Jilek said. “I never thought that some guy who started out in a one-room country school would end up with something like this. That sports complex out there that Herrin has built is really a super place. It’s not just a dirt field that somebody has hung a sign on. It’s an impressive facility.”
Jilek coached 24 years (1979 through 2002) with the Tigers and compiled an overall record of 539-102. His teams were even more dominant within the South Seven and River to River Conferences at 262-23. He led Herrin to 18 league titles in all; 19 regional titles; eight sectional titles; eight state tournament appearances; and four runner-up finishes (1980, 1981, 1993, 1998). He was also named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association and Herrin High School Halls of Fame.
Jilek said pitcher Sunny Clark set the tone for other pitchers to follow at Herrin in 1980. There was a long procession of pitching standouts after her – from Nina Calcaterra, SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock, Jennifer Brown, Tracy Ward, Rachel Phillips and Jamie Schuttek to Lynde Capogreco, Carisa Winters, Rachel Murray, and Kendra and Mary Kosco.
“Pitching was the backbone of our team,” Jilek said. “I was fortunate enough to have people who were willing to come in early in the morning to the school and give me a great deal of effort and time. Our success just kind of snowballed.”
Jilek said he would like to think that his players learned more from the game of softball than how to hit, field and throw. He said softball provided players with the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons such as sportsmanship and teamwork.
“We won a lot of games at Herrin and we all have some fond memories, but more important, I hope they learned why they should give their best effort, even if things were not going their way,” Jilek said. “Your time playing the game of softball goes by rather quickly, but the lessons you learn along the way can last you a lifetime. When I see former players doing well in the field of their choice after school… that’s what makes me happy.”
There will be a gathering of family, friends, colleagues and fans after the dedication for Jilek at the Knights of Columbus hall in Herrin.
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