Rich McElmeel is in his first season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Lewis University baseball program.

A Franklin Park native and 1987 West Leyden High School graduate, McElmeel made the University of Illinois baseball team as a walk-on catcher but saw his career cut short by a shoulder injury. He stayed active in baseball, however, as an Illinois High School Association umpire for eight years.

Following his employment at Enesco Corp. in Elk Grove Village and Federal Express in Hillside, McElmeel enrolled as a full-time student at Lewis in 2005 to pursue a teaching certificate for high school history and physical education. He and wife Cathleen have been married 13 years and have two sons - Connor (8) and Reilly (7).