News

Jacob Waddle Announced as Illinois College Head Baseball Coach

6.12.2018

Waddle comes to the Hilltop after nearly a decade of increasing responsibility as an assistant coach, most recently at Coe College.

Jacob Waddle has been named the new head baseball coach at Illinois College, taking the place of the retired Jay Eckhouse as the man to lead the Blueboys into 2019 and beyond. Waddle was an all-conference and all-region player at Luther College as an undergraduate before beginning a coaching career in which he has gained nearly a decade of experience as an assistant coach at Loras College, Concordia University (NE) and Coe College.

I am very eager and excited to get to work with the current student-athletes, faculty and staff on campus. The enthusiasm for the future of Illinois College Athletics was contagious during my time in Jacksonville. I look forward to being a part of this championship environment!
Jacob Waddle, Head Baseball Coach

"The foundation and culture of our baseball program will be built around young men of high character, who have a desire to be successful in the classroom, in the community, and on the baseball field," he continued. "I look forward to creating lasting relationships and memorable experiences with these student-athletes. My wife, Hillary, and I are very excited to join both the Illinois College and Jacksonville communities."

A 2009 graduate of Luther, Waddle played in the tough Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, earning All-IIAC honors three times in his career and twice finding a spot as an all-region selection. After earning a degree from Luther, he went on to obtain a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Dubuque while coaching across town at Loras for three seasons.

In 2014, after one year at Coe, Waddle left and became an assistant coach at Concordia (NE) for three seasons. There, he helped spearhead a turnaround in which the program broke a streak of 35 consecutive losing seasons and set single-season records for victories two years in a row. He then made a return trip to Coe, serving again as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Kohawks with day-to-day responsibilities as the hitting coach and position coach for catchers. 

"Jacob's breadth of experience within the Midwest region set him apart in this very deep pool of applicants," said Director of Athletics Mike Snyder. "He brings with him a strong background with multiple successful programs. I am confident that Jacob will lead this program with class and determination and will bring ongoing success to the Hilltop."

Waddle will assume head coaching duties of the Illinois College baseball program on July 2.

About Illinois College

Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success. The college is located in Jacksonville, Illinois. With an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, the college offers over 50 undergraduate programs. In 1932, the society of Phi Beta Kappa established a chapter at Illinois College, and it remains one of only 11 in the state.

Illinois College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Visit www.ic.edu for more information.

Media Contact Information
Emily Titsworth '19, Writer
Office of Marketing and Communication
217.245.3219 | emily.titsworth@ic.edu