Hall of Fame
During three years (1968-70) as a student assistant baseball coach at Lewis University, John Ostrowski learned his craft from one of the best-Gordie Gillespie. Almost four decades later, Ostrowski himself earned the right to be called one of the best.
Now in his 35th year as head baseball coach at Benedictine University, Ostrowski begins the 2007 season with 788 career wins (788-622-15, .558). He is ninth among active Division III coaches and 12th all-time among Division III coaches in victories.
Under Ostrowski's guidance, Benedictine has captures 15 Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) titles; finished first or second in the conference standings 29 times in 33 seasons; made seven NCAA tournament appearances, finishing among the top three in regional play in 1991,1995, and 2003; and posted 20 or more victories 26 times, including three seasons of 30 or more wins.
Ostrowski made an immediate and lasting impact after arriving at Benedictine in 1973, leading the Eagles to the NIIC title in each of his first eight seasons. The 1980 team made the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
Ostrowski's teams enjoyed more success in the 1990's, averaging nearly 25 victories per season and winning 64 percent of their games (248-138-4) during those 10 years. The 1991 club registered a 31-9-1 record, finished atop the NIIC standings and placed third in the NCAA regional. The 1995 squad reached the 30-win plateau as well (30-14) and led the nation with a 2.49 earned run average.
Benedictine has averaged nearly 25 wins per season since 2000, including a school-record 32 victories by the 2000 team that qualified for the NCAA tournament. Ostrowski's Eagles won the NIIC regular-season crown in 2004 and 2005 and made their most recent NCAA appearance in 2003.
Benedictine players have received seven All-America awards and 47 all-region/all-district honors during Ostrowski's tenure. He has coached three Major League Baseball draft choices, one player who signed an MLB free-agent contract and five players who signed contracts with independent professional teams.
The NIIC Coach of the Year in 2001, 2003, and 2004,Ostrowski was inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and named College Coach of the Year by the Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago in 2003.
After completing work on a bachelor's degree in sociology at Lewis in 1970, Ostrowski spent a year as a graduate assistant baseball coach and earned a master's degree at Nebraska State University (now Chadron State University). He was head baseball coach at Driscoll Catholic High School in 1972.
In addition to his baseball duties at Benedictine, Ostrowski has served as assistant football coach, Assistant Director of Athletics and Acting Director of Athletics during his tenure.
