JJC Baseball Coach Wayne King Jr. Racks Up 1,000th Career Win

Caption: JJC Head Baseball Coach Wayne L. King Jr. is honored for his 1,000 career victory by 2015 players.

Joliet Junior College Head Baseball Coach Wayne L. King, Jr. reached his 1,000th career victory with JJC when the Wolves defeated Milwaukee Area Technical College with a score of 11-3 on April 19.

King, who has also been JJC’s director of athletics since 1995, has coached the Wolves baseball team for 29 years. During King’s tenure, he’s led his teams to three NJCAA national championships in 1994, 2008, and 2012; two national runner-up finishes in 1995 and 2007; and two third place finishes in 1997 and 2006. King has made 11 total NJCAA World Series appearances, has earned 15 Region IV Division III championships, and claimed seven North Central Community College Conference (N4C) titles.

“Reaching 1,000 wins with the baseball team is a very nice honor. It is humbling to think that we could get this far,” King said. “Here at JJC, we’re very committed to putting forth our best efforts. I want to thank the kids, coaches and everyone who has been associated with our program throughout the years – they have been phenomenal. It has also been a great honor to coach these very talented JJC students.”

JJC Vice President of Student Development Dr. Yolanda Isaacs said that King’s achievement reflects the kind of person he is – dedicated and committed to the college’s goal of supporting student success.

“We are very proud of Coach King, who is extremely dedicated to our students here at JJC, both on and off the field. He has spent many years helping our JJC athletes achieve and accomplish their educational and athletic goals,” she said.

In addition to being honored for his 1,000th win, King has been recognized for a number of other accomplishments, both at JJC and with the NJCAA.

In 2009, King was inducted as a member of the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. Later that year, the JJC baseball field was officially named Wayne L. King, Jr. Field. King was named NJCAA Division III National Coach of the Year in1994, 2008 and 2012, and named to the Region IV Hall of Fame as an administer/coach by his fellow athletic directors in 2004.

He has had eight 40-plus win seasons throughout his career, along with a school best 49-11 record in 2008. King has coached 41 NJCAA Division III All-Americans, 123 all-region players, and has had 110 named to the N4C all-conference team. He has had two NJCAA Division III National Player of the Year recipients and has had three NJCAA Division III Gold Glove award winners. He has served as chair of the Region IV baseball committee since 1998.

King’s 2015 baseball squad has a current overall record of 23-17 and is 14-4 in the N4C conference.

For more information about the JJC Wolves baseball team, or athletics visit the JJC website.

Submitted by Joliet Junior College News Room