Top 10 Stories Of 2016: No. 5 Trio Of IHSA Coaches Eclipse 800 Wins

December 26, 2016

By Steve Nielsen
Illinois/Wisconsin Scouting Supervisor

Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2016, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2016 calendar year.

Today, we’ll take a look at No. 5 Trio Of IHSA Coaches Eclipse 800 Wins

Eclipsing 800 wins in IHSA baseball has only been accomplished three times prior to the 2016 season, but 2016 marked a memorable year for rewriting the coaching all-time wins list as three long-time IHSA coaches surpassed 800 wins in 2016.

Reference: IHSA.org Coaching Record - Most WIns, Career

Mike Napoleon (New Trier, 822), Leroy Franklin (Simeon, 809) and Pat Moomey (Chatham-Glenwood, 808) all surpassed 800 wins in 2016. In the process, all three put themselves in the top five all time winningest coaches in IHSA history. Napoleon and Moomey are still active coaches and will likely continue collecting W’s.

Franklin made 2016 his final season after 35 years at Simeon. Franklin finished his coaching career with an 809-261-4 record all of which came in a Wolverine uniform. Franklin’s tenure at Simeon may be most remembered for producing some of the highest caliber athletes the state has seen, as 40 of Franklin’s former student-athletes have gone on to hear their names taken in the MLB Draft.

Pat Moomey who recorded his 800th win in April also compiled his 808-270-3 record in one uniform as well. Moomey will enter his 32 year at Chatham-Glenwood, fifth on the IHSA all-time wins list and third to do it all at one school. Moomey has led the Titans to two state titles in his tenure in 1996 and 2010. His first state championship team also featured arguably his most recognizable alum, Jayson Werth of the Washington Nationals. Werth was a first-round selection out of Chatham-Glenwood in the 1997 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Mike Napoleon split his 822 wins between Niles Notre Dame, Providence and New Trier, the bulk of which have come by way of the Trevians. I personally contributed to the Napoleon win total as the losing pitcher in the 2000 State Championship game, arguably one of Napoleon’s biggest victories, his first of two state titles with New Trier, their second coming in 2009. Napoleon’s 800th win was another landmark win, tying him with Ron Klein for most wins in school history at 542.

Given the historic significance of one coach reaching 800 wins let alone three in one season, it's something you might say you may never see again in an IHSA season. But check back with us at the end of 2017 and you may see this same story as three more long standing IHSA coaches are poised to eclipse the 800 win mark in 2017, Jerry Rashid (Illinois Valley Central, 793), Jerry Cougill (Reed-Custer, 788) and Dave Hogan (Fenwick, 781).