Long Time Coach, Jerry Rashid To Lead Red Devils Baseball

Jerry Rashid has been appointed head coach of the Eureka College baseball team. An icon throughout the central Illinois baseball community, Rashid has won more than 800 games in 39 seasons at the high school level and is a member of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Perhaps the most decorated and successful head coach in the history of high school baseball in central Illinois, Rashid arrives at EC with 807 career victories between Illinois Valley Central (2005-17), Peoria Notre Dame (1989-04) Bergan (1986-88) and Princeville (1979-85). He won his 800th career game on April 10, 2017 and currently ranks sixth all-time on the Illinois High School Association coaching wins list.

"I am very excited to take on this new challenge in my career," Rashid said. "I look forward to being a part of a great institution and an excellent athletic department at Eureka College."

In 39 seasons as a head coach, Rashid has directed his teams to 18 conference championships, 17 IHSA regional titles, four sectional crowns and five appearances in the Sweet 16. Rashid was the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Tri-County Coach of the Year in 2006, a two-time IHSBCA Division 4 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Rashid led three of his IVC squads (2006, 2008, 2010) to the IHSA state semifinals, including two appearances in the state title game. His 2006 IVC team, led by third-round Major League Baseball Draft pick and current Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Zach McAllister, went 40-2 on its way to the IHSA Class A championship. The Grey Ghosts won at least 23 games in eight consecutive seasons from Rashid's first season in 2005 through 2012.

Including McAllister, six of Rashid's former student-athletes at IVC went on to be selected in the MLB Draft. Rashid mentored Drasen Johnson (2015 Rockies), Jordan Parr (2012 Dodgers, 2013 Diamondbacks), Josh Parr (2011 Diamondbacks), Justin Parr (2013 Phillies) and Chris Razo (2013 Brewers) prior to their collegiate and/or professional careers.

"I'm thrilled to have Jerry Rashid joining us as our head baseball coach," Eureka College Director of Athletics Steve Thompson said. "I am really impressed with his insights on the game of baseball, academic success and his philosophy on developing the whole student. He has created winning programs at every stop but his true legacy is the countless young men he has helped shape into men of integrity and character."

Rashid graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a B.S. in education. He taught English, social studies and physical education in 40 years as an educator in central Illinois.

Eureka is eligible to return 15 position players that played in at least 12 contests last spring, including its top five hitters. The Red Devils can also bring back their entire St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference starting rotation and as many as 10 pitchers that threw at least 10.0 innings in 2017.

What others are saying about Jerry Rashid:

"As an IVC alum, I'm very biased when it comes to Jerry Rashid. There's not too many coaches who embraced the media like Coach Rashid did. He made a small-time reporter feel big time. In my mind, his program at IVC was the gold standard for baseball in the central Illinois area. There's a lot of great coaches, but only one Jerry Rashid." --Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star Sports Reporter (2006-16)

"It's been my honor to cover Jerry Rashid's high school baseball teams. Coach Rashid is passionate about the game and his teams always play with great pride and hustle. What has impressed me most about Jerry is his consistency. Whether he's coaching a future World Series pitcher like Zach McAllister or the least talented player on a high school team, Jerry gives his best to every player. Eureka College is getting a great baseball coach and an even better man -- a real winner on and off the diamond." --Jim Mattson, WEEK 25/WHOI 19 Sports Director

"Coach Rashid was a coach that instilled leadership, accountability, hard work, and what it meant to hang your hat on something. To this day, those life lessons are still ingrained into my everyday life. He is a coach that expects greatness and for his players to do things right. If you don't want to work hard, he will find someone who does. That's one thing I respect so much about him - work hard, expect to win and when you hang your hat on those, good things always tend to follow." --Zach McAllister, Cleveland Indians Pitcher, Illinois Valley Central High School Class of 2006

"Eureka College just hired one of the most respected coaches in the state. Jerry Rashid is a baseball coach to the core. He's won everywhere he's worked but most importantly, he makes his players better. Better players and better men." --Kurt Pegler, WMBD 31 Sports Director

STORY COURTESY OF EUREKA COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE