Lewis University Athletics

E-mail Coach DeCaprio The 2007 season is the 33rd season of coaching baseball and the 25th campaign at Lewis for highly regarded pitching coach Dan DeCaprio. DeCaprio has been the Flyers' pitching coach since 1982 with the exception of the 1998 season, when he was head baseball coach at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. He guided Lewis hurlers to 801 victories during his first 24 seasons. DeCaprio gained international coaching experience the past several summers, serving as pitching coach in 2002 and head coach in 2003 for USA Team Italy; head coach of the 2004 USA Athletes International team that competed in the German Open; head coach of a team that competed in the French Open and Belgian Open in 2005; head coach of the USA team in the 2006 Barcelona Open; and pitching coach of the USA team at the 2006 Dragos Open. He will serve as USA head coach at the 2007 British Open. DeCaprio has coached or helped 47 players who have reached the professional ranks; former Lewis pupil Rick Huisman pitched with the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. As a coach in 2003 with the Joliet JackHammers, an independent professional team that competes in the Northern League, DeCaprio worked with Tim Byrdak, who pitched with the Baltimore Orioles the past two seasons. "Dan's contribution to our program is a major reason for the success we've enjoyed," head coach Irish O'Reilly said. "We're fortunate to have him at Lewis." "I can't thank Irish enough for all the opportunities I've had in baseball," DeCaprio said. "I look forward to the next several seasons and reaching my goal of coaching baseball for 50 years." A resident of Manhattan, DeCaprio coached baseball, basketball, football and wrestling at Crete-Monee High School and Chicago Heights Marian Catholic High School before coming to Lewis in 1982. In eight years as head football coach at Crete-Monee, he posted the most wins in school history and led his teams to four conference titles. DeCaprio compiled a 194-36 mark with two league titles and a third-place state finish in three years as Crete-Monee's summer head baseball coach. He coached the school's spring baseball team to four straight conference crowns and four regional titles. DeCaprio was a three-sport standout at Rich East High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Illinois State University in 1974 and a master's degree in physical education/athletics administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1982. DeCaprio and wife Carol have been married 32 years and have three children - Scott (27), Carrie (25) and Darcie (23).