Former Eagle returns to coach baseball team
By Paul Johnson
IV Leader Staff, May 5, 2005
For the members of the Illinois Valley Community College baseball team, this season has already been a wild ride. When the Eagles opened up the year on March 17, Coach Mark Tellkamp became the third skipper that the team has had in the last six months.
The main reason for the musical chairs in the coaching job has been money. All coaching jobs at IV are part-time.
The fact that all coaching jobs are part-time leads to a higher turnover rate, according to Athletic Director Mike Riley. For many, working at a community college can be a way to build skills and recognition in a coaching career.
This was the reason that former baseball coach Bob Koopmann left. After helping to lead the Eagles to several postseason games, he decided to accept a full-time coaching job offer in Iowa, according to starting pitcher Jim Clesson.
Finances also played a large role in the departure of Koopmann’s successor, Kevin Hartzeil.
“It is going to be about finances 75 percent of the time” stated Riley on why personnel leave IV.
Hartzeil was offered a full-time position coaching baseball in Peoria. Since the school had no way to match that offer, Hartzeil left to take that job shortly before the baseball season started.
Hartzeil was also an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team.
A main concern of Hartzeil was providing for his young family, according to Riley.
While IV is looking for another head coach, Tellkamp will serve as the interim head coach.
According to Riley, Tellkamp is well qualified to serve as the Eagles coach. He is a former member of the Eagles baseball team and is familiar with baseball recruiting and scouting, seeing it first-hand.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and made it as far as AA baseball in the minor league system.
Whether Tellkamp will be the head coach next year remains to be seen.
At the end of the season the position will be available again, allowing interested candidates the opportunity to submit their resumes.
A committee will review the applicants and decide on the best possible candidate.
In the mean time, Riley is very proud of the level of quality and proficiency that IV sports have maintained over the last few years.
Recently, IV earned its fourth Arrowhead Sports Award. This is the highest honor that a junior college can earn for its athletic department.
Riley is also proud of the athletes that compete in these sports and what they have collectively accomplished.
“The bottom line is that we are looking to take care of our student athletes and give them the tools they need to succeed,” stated Riley.