Newly hired University of Illinois Springfield baseball coach Chris Ramirez recognizes similarities between the Prairie Stars’ program and the one at NCAA Division I Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where he spent the previous six seasons.
Since 2008, the 30-year-old Iowa native has served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Prior to his stint in Texas, Ramirez was a hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa, and an assistant for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods summer league. He was head coach at West Burlington High in 2006.
Ramirez is the third UIS coach since the Division II program’s inaugural season in 2011. He replaces Mike Zandler, whose contract was not renewed after two seasons for undisclosed reasons. It is Ramirez’s first head coaching position at the college level. He will earn $47,500.
“I really liked (UIS athletic director Kim Pate’s) vision,” he said. “I really felt she wanted to hire a head coach to partner up with to get this program going and do things the right way.
Ramirez was featured by The State Journal-Register on July 2, 2013.
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