Whalen Named Coach of the Year

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star infielder Steve Sax was there. And legendary high school and college coach Gordy Gillespie.

It was a coaching seminar at the College of DuPage last weekend. That's where high school coaches poured in for a clinic with the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association.

And there was that matter of handing out the annual coach of the year awards. A year ago, Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen was a recipient of this high honor. That was because he took his Rams club to third place in the state in Class 3A.

And this year's award winner of the IHBCA coach of the year in 3A is: Troy Whalen of Grayslake Central.

"Troy Whalen is class act who continually has the big picture in mind,'' said Grayslake Central athletics director Tom Kim.  "From top to bottom, he runs a complete program and outlines the expectations in a clear manner every year for the student-athletes, parents, and assistant coaches. Troy is truly deserving of this honor.”

Whalen's baseball teams have won 57 games in the last two years. The Rams have won three regional crowns under his direction. Add to that a pair of sectional victories, two conference championships, one supersectional, and of course that third-place state finish.

When he entered the Grayslake program eight years ago, however, winning wasn't so fashionable. His first club in 2003 lost 18 games.

"It was about changing the culture of losing,'' Whalen said. "That doesn't happen overnight. Winning is about confidence."

Winning this award two years in a row caught Whalen a little off guard.

"It's awesome to get recognized by your peers,'' he said. "It's really about the kids in the program. But I was surprised this time."

In eight years, Whalen's teams have chalked up 174 wins.

"At the risk of stating the obvious, Troy is an excellent coach in all phases of the game,'' said North baseball coach Andy Strahan. "He prepares everyone in that program to expect success and has instilled confidence and a winning attitude at all levels of Grayslake baseball. The kids have really bought into what he’s teaching and they play hard for him."

With all this winning come expectations. Whalen's plan is to never rebuild but rather just reload.

"In the majority of practices, I don't have to say much,'' Whalen said. "The kids in the program know what is expected of them. The younger guys follow the older guys. When I first started it was pretty stressful."

Another class of talented players graduated leaving Whalen's next spring team minus seven starters. He doesn't worry about that at all.

"We've got seniors who won the conference as sophomores,'' Whalen said. "They have a chip on their shoulder. I talk to these kids about wall space. Where is their space on the wall here? It's a reminder of accomplishment. I know I can't coach effort but I can inspire it."

Kim certainly believes the players in the Grayslake program have faith in their coach.

"I think they respect him for the high standards that he expects of everyone regardless of the ability and experience of coaches and student-athletes,'' Kim said. "He is a hands on guy who wants to make sure that our school and community has a classy program and that our kids have the best experience possible."