Top-10 Stories of 2024: No. 6 Active Wins Leaders Among Coaches in Illinois
December 24, 2024
Illinois has had it's share of legendary coaches throughout the years, and we have been lucky enough to experience a handful of them throughout our time at Prep Baseball. Today we wanted to take a look and highlight the Top-10 active wins leaders among coaches in the IHSA, as well as highlight some of their achievements throughout the years.
New Trier’s Mike Napoleon just recently took over the top position all-time with 1,000 wins, reaching this historic mark this past spring before retiring at the conclusion of the season. His historic run is highlighted by two state championships (2000, 2009), two second-place finishes (1999, 2007), a third-place finish (2023) and a fourth-place finish (2017).
Two more members of this list that just recently retired are Dave Hogan (Fenwick) and Phil Bodine (Mendota, York, Plainfield South).
Hogan comes in at No. 6 all-time with 862 wins, which also places him at No. 4 for wins at a single school - while Bodine comes in at No. 24 all-time with 688 wins, split between Mendota (1991-2005), York (2006-2008) and Plainfield South (2009-2024).
Leroy Franklin, the legendary head coach of Simeon, recently passed away after a historic coaching career that started in 1980. In his time at the helm of Simeon, coach Franklin amassed 809 total wins, placing him at No. 9 all-time and No. 6 for a single school.
The Top-10
1. Coming in as the wins leader among active coaches we have Jay Thompson of Harrisburg with 920 career victories, putting him at No. 3 all-time on the career wins list as well. On top of this, Thompson also has the most wins in state history for a single school, with all of his victories coming at the helm of Harrisburg. Thompson first debuted as head coach of the Bulldogs in 1982, and his brother, Joe, filled in as head coach for five years between now and then. Under Jay, the Bulldogs have claimed a state title (1989) and four second-place finishes (1991, 1992, 2003, 2010) - as well as a fourth-place finish in 1995. Thompson was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997.
2. Tim Funkhouser takes the No. 2 position on the list with 835 career wins (835-226), placing him at No. 7 all-time. Funkhouser started his coaching career at Triad in 1996 before making the shift to Edwardsville in 1999, where he’s been ever since. Despite being at multiple schools, Funkhouser still cracks the list at No. 8 for wins at a single school with 780 at Edwardsville. Under his control, the Tigers have claimed three state titles (three in four years) to go along with two state runner-ups and a third place finish. Funkhouser was voted the IHSBCA 4A coach of the year three times (2019, 2022, 2023) and he was voted IHSA Baseball Coach of the Year for 2016-2017. On top of all this, Funkhouser was inducted into the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024, the IHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2015, and the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
3. Dave Greer of Pleasant Plains takes the No. 3 position for active wins-leaders, boasting 815 victories to his name which puts him at No. 8 all-time and No. 5 for most wins at a single school. Greer took over the program in 1990 and has two state titles under his belt (2000, 2014), as well as two second-place finishes (2013, 2019), a third-place finish in 1995, and a fourth-place finish in 2004. Greer was inducted in the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.
4. Eric Regez of Herscher comes in at No. 4 with 783 wins, placing him at No. 13 all-time and No. 8 for a single school. Regez took over the program in 1992, and he has an eye-opening overall record of 783-331 with a state title in 1999, as well as a third-place finish in 2012, fourth-place finish in 2018 and 19 regionals along the way - including 11 in a row at one point. One of the most impressive records Regez holds is his 88 game conference winning streak when they were members of the River Valley Conference. Regez was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2013.
5. Jim Steinwart of Springfield holds down the No. 5 position with 726 career wins, putting him at No. 17 all-time and No. 15 for most wins at a single school. Steinwart took over the Springfield program in 1987 and he has amassed an overall record of 726-584. In his time, Springfield has claimed a 3A state title (2021) and second-place finish (2016). Steinwart was named the IHSA Coach of the Year in 2021, and was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.
6. Greenville’s Todd Hutchinson comes in at No. 6 with 662 career wins, placing him at No. 28 all-time and No. 24 for a single school. Coach Hutchinson has been at the helm since 1993, and he’s amassed an overall record of 662-332. Over his 30 years, Greenville has 13 regional titles, three sectional titles and a third-place finish at state in 1998. Hutchinson was recently inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
7. Taking over in 1997, Todd Hopkins of Ottawa Marquette holds down the No. 7 position with 650 career wins, also putting him at No. 29 all-time and No. 25 for wins at a single school. Fresh off a 1A state title this past spring, Hopkins now has two state championships in the last five years and four appearances at state in the last six years - winning his first title in 2019, also taking third in 2022 and fourth in 2018. Hopkins was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014 and he boasts a career record of 650-183 (.780).
8. Joliet Catholic’s Jared Voss holds down the No. 8 spot with 646 career wins, putting him at No. 31 all-time and No. 27 for a single school. Since taking over in 1999, Voss has an eye-opening four state titles, most recently coming in 2023 and 2022, along with 2013 and 2009. On top of this, Coach Voss has two second-place finishes (2000, 2004), a third-place finish (2008) and a fourth-place finish (2010). Voss was voted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
9. Lee Milano of Nazareth Academy slides in at No. 9 with his 612 career victories, putting him at No. 41 all-time and No. 36 for a single school. Milano took over the Roadrunners’ program in 2000 and has amassed an overall record of 612-280, pairing with two state titles (2022, 2023), a second-place finish (2015), two third-place finishes (2012, 2018) and a fourth-place finish (2011). Milano was elected into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017 and now serves as the group’s president.
10. Capping off the Top-10 is Jerry McDowell with 606 career wins, putting him at No. 44 overall and No. 46 for a single school (Coal City, 573). McDowell took over in Coal City in 1995 and coached through 2017, collecting 10 regional championships, three sectionals, two super-sectional appearances and two state finals appearances (fourth place, 2008). After a few years away, coach McDowell is now back at the helm, but this time at Dwight. Another inductee to the IHSBCA Hall of Fame, McDowell was voted into the hall in 2014. In addition to his success at the high school level, McDowell has also coached at the junior high level for 40 years in the IESA, winning 18 regionals along the way with four state championships - making his all-time win total for all levels equal 1259.
Jason Cavanaugh (Sycamore, 596) and Mark Vogel (Waterloo, 594) are two more active coaches that fall in the Top-50 all-time for wins, with Cavanaugh coming in at No. 47 and Vogel at No. 49.