Lewis University Athletics

Former Florida Marlins manager and Lewis baseball standout John Boles was named to the 1991 Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame Class.
 
Boles played baseball for the Flyers from 1966-70. He was voted to the All-Conference team in 1970.  His teams won NAIA District 20 Championships in 1967, 1968 and 1969.  Boles was named to the Dean’s List of Honor Students three consecutive years.
 
He was named head baseball coach at St. Xavier College, Chicago, IL, in 1972.  After compiling a 261-120 win-loss record and building St. Xavier into a perennial NAIA national power, Boles joined professional baseball.
 
He served as a minor league manager with the Chicago White Sox from 1981-1985.  In 1986 Boles joined the Kansas City Royals and after serving as a minor league manager, was named the Director of Player Development.  He served in that capacity until 1989.
 
In 1981, Boles joined the Chicago White Sox organization as manager of the Gulf Coast League White Sox. He advanced through the minor league system, eventually managing at the Triple-A level. In 1986, he joined the Kansas City Royals organization as manager of the Omaha Royals before being promoted to director of player development after one season. He held that position until 1989.

That year, Boles joined the Montreal Expos as vice president of player development, hired by Dave Dombrowski, who had previously worked in the White Sox organization. When Dombrowski became the first general manager of the expansion Florida Marlins following the 1991 season, Boles accompanied him to Florida to serve as the franchise's first vice president of player development.

Boles moved into the dugout in July 1996, when he was named interim manager of the Marlins. He guided the club to a 40-35 record over the remainder of the season before returning to his front-office role the following year. The Marlins went on to win the 1997 National League pennant and World Series Championship.

Boles returned to the manager's position for the 1999 season, leading Florida to a 64-98 record before the team improved to 79-82 in 2000. He continued to manage the Marlins into the 2001 season, compiling a 22-26 record before being dismissed on May 29.

Following his managerial tenure, Boles returned to baseball operations. In 2002, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as a senior adviser for baseball operations. He moved to the Seattle Mariners in 2005, serving as special assistant to the executive vice president and general manager while also working as a scout. In 2012, Boles returned to the Royals organization as a senior adviser to general manager Dayton Moore.

Boles' career reflects a longstanding commitment to player development and baseball operations, beginning with his success at the collegiate level and extending through decades in Major League Baseball organizations. His son, Kevin, also followed him into professional baseball, working as a manager in Minor League Baseball.

Boles and his wife, Rosemary, have two children, Blake and Kevin.