What’s your fiber?
GK: I was born to two amazing and supportive parents Susan and Glenn who have shaped me into the man I am today. I can’t thank them enough for the amount of love they have shown me throughout my life. I grew up on the East Side of Chicago where I attended Annunciata. From there I decided to attend high school here at De and let’s just say it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. After high school I attended Marietta College, before transferring to Joliet Junior College, followed by St.Francis and lastly finishing my college career at Calumet College of St. Joseph. After college I had a short stint in professional baseball, playing for the Schaumburg Boomers. Once I was done playing I knew I wanted to get into coaching and that is when I was given an opportunity in 2020 to be an assistant coach here at De, then moving on to an associate position and now the head coach.
What does it mean to you being an alumni baseball player and now being the Head Varsity Baseball Coach?
GK: It means everything to me, I tell people that I’m doing what I love, and that I love coming to work each day. This place is my home, and I consider everybody here my family. I have worked so hard to get to where I am and I’m going to continue to work to make De the best place it can be.
Cultural Goals?
GK: Academics are top priority to me, I will hold the players to a standard of excellence in the classroom, cause when it comes down to it, college coaches will not accept anything less than a 3.0 GPA . Which brings up the next point. I will do everything I can for the players and their families to get them into college to continue their careers. I truly believe that there is a place for everybody. I want to see all of my players get into a college, because at the end of the day they are always going to be a part of the De family and families stick by each other through the good and bad. The last thing I want to mention is my goal in marketing. De is a special place, we have some of the best facilities and top notch staff members. I hope interested families witness this. If you have not made it here for a game, I strongly suggest you do, we have an amazing scoreboard and sound system, as well as an all turf field and lights which allows us to play and practice more outside than any other school. The school sells itself once you get on campus here at 35th and Michigan.
Tell me about this year’s team?
GK: This year’s team is a special one, we have most of the lineup from last year returning with a few key additions via transfers and players that played on the lower level team last year. The team we have this year is the closest knit group I’ve seen, the chemistry and hard work is there, along with top talent from the junior and senior class, most who have been starters since their freshman year. Obviously the CCL is filled with a rich tradition, with great coaches but I know that this team can win another conference title. With the ultimate goal being to win a state title, and as every coach will say they believe they have a chance at state, but I wholeheartedly believe we do have a chance at state.