Past Coaches

Dave Rowell (1985-2007)
34 seasons - 23 as Head Coach
Southern Illinois University '72

Dave Rowell ended his 23rd season at the helm of the West Aurora Baseball Team and his 34th coaching in the program at the conclusion of the 2007 season.  Coach Rowell took over the reigns from Arnie Verbic at the beginning of the 1985 season and has kept the winning tradition going strong.  Over 23 seasons Coach Rowell has compiled a record of 428-287-4 giving him a .595 winning percentage.  He has guided the Blackhawks to 7 conference titles, all in the Upstate Eight Conference, 9 Regional Titles, and 2 Sectional Titles with a 5th Place finish in 1987 and 4th Place finish in 1991.  The most recent Regional Title came during the 2006 season when his team captured the Regional Title defeating Waubonsie Valley.  During his tenure as Head Coach, he has seen a number of former players move on to the college level, as well as, 4 players play at the professional level.  Former Blackhawk and member of 1990 team Rich Becker played in the Major Leagues for close to 10 years.  The most recent former Blackhawk to play professionally is Preston Larrison, who is currently with the Detroit Tigers system.  Prior to becoming the head coach, Coach Rowell served as Sophomore Coach beginning in 1973 when he first arrived at West Aurora.

Dave Rowell hails from the Quad Cities where he graduated from Moline High School in 1968.  While at Moline, Coach Rowell was a member of the 1967 Moline High School football team that went unbeaten and won the mythical state championship.  He was the starting quarterback on a team that went 9-0 and has been declared the state champion before the advent of the playoff system.  After high school, Coach Rowell headed down to Carbondale, Illinois to attend Southern Illinois University where he graduated in 1972.