Dan Hartleb (born February 15, 1966) is an American baseball coach and former catcher, who is the current the head baseball coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini. Hartleb played two seasons of junior college baseball at John A. Logan College before finishing his playing career with two seasons at Southern Illinois. His coaching career began immediately after his playing career ended, as he served as a graduate assistant under Itch Jones at Southern Illinois from 1989–1990. When Jones was offered the head coaching position at Illinois following the 1990 season, Hartleb went with him and served as an Illinois assistant from 1991–2005.[1][2] Under Hartleb, the Fighting Illini have appeared in four NCAA tournaments.[1]

Dan Hartleb
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIllinois
ConferenceBig Ten
Record557–413–1 (.574)
Biographical details
Born (1966-02-15) February 15, 1966 (age 58)
Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1985–1986John A. Logan College
1987–1988Southern Illinois
Position(s)Catcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1989–1990Southern Illinois (assistant)
1991–2005Illinois (assistant)
2006–presentIllinois
Head coaching record
Overall557–413–1 (.574)
Tournaments6–8 (NCAA Division I)
10–18 (Big Ten)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Big Ten regular season (2011, 2015)
Big Ten tournament (2011)
Awards
Big Ten Coach of the Year (2015)

Hartleb became the head coach at Illinois when Jones retired at the end of the 2005 season. The Illini qualified for four Big Ten Tournaments in Hartleb's first five seasons, finishing with an above-.500 record in each. They failed to make an NCAA tournament or win more than one game in a Big Ten Tournament, however, and media outlets raised the possibility that Hartleb's contract would not be renewed following the 2010. It was, however, and Illinois won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles the following year, qualifying for the NCAA tournament. There, the team went 2–2 and reached a regional final. After missing the Big Ten Tournament in 2012, Illinois reached another NCAA tournament in 2013. Following the season, Hartleb signed a new, multi-year contract.[1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Head coaching record edit

The following is a table of Hartleb's yearly records as a collegiate head baseball coach.[11][12][13]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference) (2006–present)
2006 Illinois 29–29 15–17 T-5th Big Ten tournament
2007 Illinois 31–27 16–14 5th Big Ten tournament
2008 Illinois 31–25 16–15 4th Big Ten tournament
2009 Illinois 34–20 16–8 4th Big Ten tournament
2010 Illinois 26–26 10–14 9th
2011 Illinois 30–27 15–9 T-1st NCAA Regional
2012 Illinois 28–25 11–13 T-6th
2013 Illinois 35–20 14–10 T-5th NCAA Regional
2014 Illinois 32–21 17–7 3rd Big Ten tournament
2015 Illinois 50–10–1 21–1 1st NCAA Super Regional
2016 Illinois 28–23 12–12 9th
2017 Illinois 23–28 9–15 10th
2018 Illinois 33–20 15–9 4th Big Ten tournament
2019 Illinois 36–21 15–9 T-3rd NCAA Regional
2020 Illinois 8–5 0–0 Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Illinois 22–22 22–22 7th
2022 Illinois 31–22 17–7 T-2nd Big Ten tournament
2023 Illinois 25–27 12–12 7th Big Ten tournament
2024 Illinois 25–15 11–4
Illinois: 557–413–1 (.574) 264–198 (.571)
Total: 557–413–1 (.574)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal edit

Due to the death of his father, Hartleb spent some time away from the team during the 2014 season.[14]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "#24 Dan Hartleb". FightingIllini.com. Illinois Athletic Communicationa. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  2. ^ Huth, Jeff (February 23, 2006). "Tough Shoes to Fill Motivating – Not Intimdating – To Hartleb". News-Gazette.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ^ Jackson, Marcus (June 14, 2005). "Itch Jones Didn't Rush Retirement Decision". News-Gazette.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "Transactions". Courant.com. Hartford Courant. June 16, 2005. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  5. ^ Gardiner, Andy (April 22, 2009). "Big Ten Making Noise by Knocking on Omaha's Door". USAToday.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  6. ^ Huth, Jeff (May 27, 2010). "Speculation Ends: Hartleb to Return". News-Gazette.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. ^ Powers, Scott (May 30, 2011). "Illinois Makes NCAA Baseball Tourney". ESPN Chicago. Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  8. ^ Ryan, Shannon (May 30, 2013). "Justin Parr, Illinois Out to Extend Season: Big Ten Player of the Year Leads Illinois into NCAA Baseball Tournament". ChicagoTribune.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  9. ^ Poe, Barry (May 30, 2013). "Kerian, Illinois Begin Baseball Regional Action in Nashville". SiouxCityJournal.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "Illinois, Baseball Coach Looking at New Contract". NewsOK.com. June 8, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "2013 Big Ten Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "2014 Illinois Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois Athletic Communication. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "2014 Baseball Standings". BigTen.org. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  14. ^ Fortin, Nick (April 8, 2014). "After Father Dies, Hartleb Takes Time Away from Illinois Baseball". DailyIllini.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.