Schools

South Suburban College’s Head Baseball Coach Ruzich Reaches 1,000 Wins


SOUTH HOLLAND, IL—(ENEWSPF)—April 24, 2014. South Suburban College (SSC) Head Baseball Coach Steve Ruzich earned his 1,000th win Wednesday in an 8-6 victory over Morton College.  The Bulldogs rallied from a 6-0 deficit to improve to 25-14 on the season, and help Coach Ruzich achieve the impressive milestone.

“It’s a milestone, but it’s not about me,” said Ruzich.  “It’s about the great kids that have played at this program and the tough schedule that we play every year.”

Ruzich, who has served as Head Baseball Coach at SSC since 1987, now joins just 12 other active coaches with 1,000 wins in the entire National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).  He is one even fewer to have earned all 1,000 wins at the same college.  During his tenure, Ruzich has coached 14 All-Americans and his program boasts an 80% graduation rate, including 252 players that have continued on to four-year institutions.  Twenty-two of his players have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams, five of whom have reached the big leagues.

Ruzich was also recently selected for the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.  Ruzich will officially be inducted on May 23rd in an opening ceremony for the 2014 World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado–annual home of the NJCAA Division I World Series–where Ruzich’s Bulldogs have made two past appearances.  This recognition is a rare accomplishment–the NJCAA Hall of Fame began in 1982 and the Selection Committee has only chosen 89 members since that time.

“I am honored to be selected to the Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame,” said Coach Ruzich.  “This is such a prestigious award, I am just very grateful to be recognized for the career I have been able to have with the help of some great coaches and players.”

Coach Ruzich was an All-American catcher at the College of Saint Francis and was drafted in 1985 by the Chicago White Sox. After a brief pro stint, Ruzich took over the SSC Baseball Team in 1987 and now also serves as SSC’s Athletic Director.  He is well-known as a director and coordinator of local parent-child baseball camps which have attracted thousands of participants, and Ruzich has also worked for the Chicago White Sox as an instructor in their Fundamentals area at Cellular One Field. 

For more information, please contact Coach Ruzich at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2413 or email [email protected].  SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.

Source: ssc.edu

 


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