Aug. 13, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University Director of Athletics Dan Schumacher has announced the hiring of Tim McDonough as head baseball coach.

McDonough is the fourth head coach in the 54-year history of the program. He replaces longtime head coach Henry "Irish" O'Reilly, who retired from coaching in July after 29 seasons at the helm.

"The history of Lewis baseball is one of tradition and excellence, built by two of the finest coaches in the game in Gordie Gillespie and Irish O'Reilly," Schumacher said. "Tim has some big shoes to fill, and I am confident he has the potential to not only return the program to national prominence, but also to continue to build the legacy and pride that defines Lewis baseball."

McDonough has an extensive and successful background as an assistant coach. He spent the past five seasons as the top assistant at Northern Illinois University, where he served as the program's recruiting coordinator and hitting instructor. He also was an assistant at Kishwaukee Community College and North Central College. Lewis marks his first collegiate head coaching position.

McDonough's success as a recruiter resulted in consecutive nationally-ranked recruiting classes in 2005 and 2006. His 2006 class was lauded by the publication Collegiate Baseball as the No. 60 class nationally and featured five players from the state of Illinois, all ranked among the Land of Lincoln's Top 50 "Cream of the Crop" by the Illinois High School Coaches Association. The group ranked second among Mid-American Conference classes and above Minnesota, San Jose State and Missouri State.

The talented 2006 group surpassed the previous season's No. 70 class ranking when Collegiate Baseball recognized NIU's 2005 newcomers alongside national powers UCLA, Texas Tech, Central Florida and Baylor. It was the first time in over a decade the Huskies earned such prestigious accolades for its baseball recruiting.

McDonough made an immediate impact on the Huskie hitters during his first season at NIU. The 2003 squad set numerous season batting records, including hits (625), home runs (70) and runs scored (408). As a team, NIU hit .315, with seven players hitting better than .300. In year two under McDonough, the Huskies tied a school record with 21 triples and posted the second-highest marks in school annals in many offensive categories.

In 2005, Jeremy Busch became the first Huskie position player in 25 seasons to earn first-team All-MAC honors after hitting .340. In 2006, McDonough helped outfielder Brian Toner improve his batting average over 130 points from the previous season on his way to a first-team All-MAC selection, and first baseman Scott Simon became the NIU career hit leader. The duo of Simon and Toner hit .383 and .382, respectively, in the MAC.

During his time at Kishwaukee, the 2002 team posted a 41-16 record and had six players selected in the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft, half of whom were infielders coached by McDonough.

McDonough began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, North Central College (Naperville, Ill.). A nationally-ranked NCAA Division III baseball program, North Central won two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) titles and earned two regional berths (1996 and 1998) during McDonough's four years on staff, culminating with a final national ranking of No. 15 following the 1998 season.

During his time as an assistant at NCC, McDonough also served as head coach for the Prairie Gravel Baseball Club of the Metro Collegiate Summer Baseball League. His squad won three-consecutive Metro College Summer Baseball League championships while sending 20 players to the professional baseball draft.

A standout infielder during his collegiate playing career, McDonough earned first-team All-CCIW honors in 1994 and helped the Cardinals capture a conference crown. In 1995, McDonough garnered a first-team nod while being named CCIW Player of the Year and winning the league's Triple Crown. His successful season was capped with recognition as a Division III All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association. McDonough graduated from NCC with a bachelor's degree in speech/broadcast communications in 1995.

A 1991 graduate of Burbank's St. Laurence High School, McDonough is originally from Bridgeview, Ill.

"I am excited to be chosen as the new head baseball coach at Lewis University," McDonough said. "To succeed such legendary coaches as Gordie Gillespie and Irish O'Reilly is truly an honor and I am humbled to be given the opportunity.

"I wish to thank Brother James Gaffney, Wayne Draudt and Dan Schumacher for this opportunity," McDonough added. "Lewis has a proud tradition as an institution and as a place for student athletes to develop and prosper academically, socially and athletically.

"My staff and I will work diligently to provide a `world-class' experience for our student athletes while developing them to excel on the field. Our goal will be to climb to the top of our conference and compete for a national championship every year and help bring the GLVC All-Sports Trophy back to Lewis."