Coaches
Head Coach
Bill Angelo
Phone: 847-214-7133
Office: EVC 129, Main Campus
bangelo@elgin.edu
Coach Angelo is in his 12th year as the head baseball coach of ECC. In his previous 11 seasons, the coach has brought a sense of pride to the program, building a winning tradition at ECC where the Spartans have made five consecutive trips to the NJCAA DII World Series. Last season, Coach Angelo led the Spartans to fifth place at the NJCAA Division II Championship. His teams have won six Skyway Conference championships in the last seven years, nine straight Sectional titles, five straight Region IV titles, and five consecutive District titles. In 2007, the Spartans finished with a record of 32-16.
Coach Angelo received the 2002 and 2003 Skyway Conference Men's Sports Coach of the Year Award. Last season, he was named Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference, Region IV and North District Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, more than 55 players have moved on to compete at the university-level, 14 were named All-Americans and nine players have been drafted. Coach Angelo brings enthusiasm to the field everyday and believes hard work and passion are necessities for success.
He was an assistant coach of the Spartans for three years. Coach Angelo also played for ECC in 1990-91. He was named First Team All-Conference in 1991 and named Team MVP. He finished his playing career at Benedictine University where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology. He is also a fitness coordinator at the college and lives with his wife, Diane, and two children in Elburn.
Team Record Under Angelo
2008 – 32-16; 2007 - 45-11; 2006 - 47-16; 2005 - 54-10; 2004 - 41-28; 2003 - 36-17; 2002 - 31-18; 2001 - 31-28; 2000 - 24-33; 1999 - 14-43; 1998 - 15-31
Career Record - 370 wins – 251 losses - .596 career winning percentage
Associate Head Coach
Justin Kees
Phone: 847-214-7133
Office: EVC 129, Main Campus
Coach Kees is back this season for his sixth year with Coach Angelo at Elgin Community College. His primary duty is as the pitching coach. Last season he took the year off to accept a full time position at the college. In 2007, he helped the Spartans to a fourth straight trip to the NJCAA World Series. His pitching staff has consistently been among the best in the region. Coach Angelo states "I truly believe that we have one of the best pitching coaches in the area. Coach Kees has already left an everlasting mark on the program and me. Him being around has truly made me a better coach, and it is immeasurable what he adds to our ball club." Since Kees has arrived at Elgin, the Spartans have averaged 44 wins a season. Coach Kees has also produced four All-American pitchers in five seasons with the Spartans.
Coach Kees played in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization and posted a .625 winning percentage in back-to-back seasons with Lethbridge, a Rookie-Class team where he went 5-3, and High Desert, a Class-A team where he went 6-2. Coach Kees also played locally with the Schaumburg Flyers. His career professional record, which spanned over 4 seasons, was 20-13.
In January 2002, Coach Kees was named pitching coach of the Rockford RiverHawks, an independent team in the Frontier League. Under Coach Kees, Rockford's pitching staff ranked second in the league with a 3.88 ERA. Coach Kees spent the 2001 season as the varsity pitching coach at Barrington High School where he helped the staff post a 23-10 record.
Coach Kees graduated from Danville Area Community College where he earned All-Conference and All-Region honors as an outfielder. He later enrolled at Southern Illinois University. Coach Kees lives in Cortland with his wife, Lisa, and two children.
Assistant Coach
Ralph Riske
Phone: 847-214-7133
Office: EVC 129, Main Campus
Coach Riske is in his third season with the Spartans, helping with the hitters and coaching first base. Coach Riske is a former teammate of Coach Angelo and very familiar with the Spartan program. “He has a true passion for the game and a huge impact on our team. We are very fortunate to have him around,” said Coach Angelo.
Last year, Riske's coaching efforts were instrumental in the team batting .375, the highest in Spartan history. "Each player is different. I work hard with each and every one. I try to bring out the best of their abilities by using the knowledge I've learned and studied to pass on," said Riske. Entering this season, he has set even higher goals for the team.
Coach Riske resides in Schaumburg, Illinois and has two daughters.
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Assistant Coach
Kyle Neubauer
Phone: 847-214-7133
Office: EVC 129, Main Campus
As a new addition to the Spartan staff, assistant coach Kyle Neubauer is eager and ready to get back to the winning traditions. Kyle is a former ECC player from 2004-2005 and was a part of the first two consecutive trips to the NJCAA Division II World Series. He finished his baseball career at Judson University and became a student assistant coach at Judson after his career ended in 2007. Neubauer enters his second season of coaching in his career as an assistant coach with the Spartans.
He finished his two-year career at Judson with 85 strikeouts and a 7-7 record. In 2007, he was named to the All-CCAC First-Team as a pitcher, was second in the CCAC in individual pitching, and fifth in strikeouts. He finished with an overall ERA of 3.19 and had a 2.49 ERA in the CCAC. Against Ashford, he had a career-high nine strikeouts. His six wins in a season is tied for sixth all-time for wins in a season. Neubauer is second in Judson history for least amount of walks per inning.
Coach Neubauer resides in Elgin, Illinois and is planning to get married this summer.
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