HR1090 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1090 LRB098 21189 MST 59123 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Steve Ruzich, baseball coach at South Suburban College (SSC) in South Holland, on being inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Steve Ruzich will be officially inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame on May 23rd in the opening ceremony for the 2014 World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado - annual home of the NJCAA Division I World Series - where his Bulldogs have made 2 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; and

WHEREAS, Steve Ruzich has earned 10 NJCAA Regional Titles and 10 Region IV Coach of the Year awards during his tenure at SSC; he also has earned 2 District Coach of the Year Awards and 2 Chicagoland Pitch and Hit Club Coach of the Year accolades; and

WHEREAS, Steve Ruzich's record at SSC includes 26 winning seasons with 1,010 wins and 587 loses; he now joins just 12 other active coaches with 1,000 wins in the entire NJCAA and is one of even fewer to have earned all 1,000 wins at the same college; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, Steve Ruzich has coached 14 All-Americans and his program boasts an 80% graduation rate, including 252 players that have continued on to 4-year institutions; 22 of his players have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams, 5 of whom have reached the big leagues; the SSC baseball team is widely recognized as producing leaders and talented baseball teams; and

WHEREAS, Steve Ruzich is well-known as a director and coordinator of local parent-child baseball camps which have attracted thousands of participants to SSC's Main Campus in South Holland; he has also worked for the Chicago White Sox as an instructor in their fundamentals area at Cellular One Field; and

WHEREAS, Steve 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, he took over the SSC Baseball Team in 1987 and now also serves as SSC's Athletic Director; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Steve Ruzich on being inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame, and wish him many more years of success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Steve Ruzich as an expression of our esteem and respect.