Illini men’s baseball head coach Dan Hartleb has been named the 2024 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year. It is Hartleb’s second time winning this award, earning the honor for the first time in 2015. Six Illini were named to the All-Big Ten teams.
Every year, the Big Ten Conference gives out individual awards following the regular season. Big Ten head coaches vote for a coach of the year, three all-conference teams, an all-freshman team and individual Sportsmanship Awards.
The four teams consist of the best players at each position, with each lineup having four pitchers, one catcher, one first, second and third baseman, one shortstop, three outfielders, one designated hitter and one utility player. The Sportsmanship Award is given to “student-athletes who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship, ethical behavior, academics and citizenship.”
Hartleb earned the Coach of the Year honor after leading the Illini to a successful regular season, finishing 33-18 overall and 18-6 in conference play. Last week, the Illini ended their regular season with a three-game sweep over Purdue to win the Big Ten Conference Championship, giving Hartleb his third Big Ten title.
Hartleb joined the Illinois baseball coaching staff in 1991 as an assistant coach under former Illini baseball head coach Itch Jones, who Hartleb followed to Illinois from Southern Illinois University. Hartleb became the head coach in 2005, and in 19 seasons has earned a career record of 565-415-1 with a conference record of 271-200 for a 57% win rate.
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Among players, junior catcher Camden Janik and senior designated hitter Jacob Schroeder were awarded first-team honors. Senior second-baseman Brody Harding and junior outfielder Ryan Moerman made the second team, and junior first-baseman Drake Westcott and freshman utility player Cameron Chee-Aloy were selected for the third team.
Chee-Aloy also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team, with senior outfielder Connor Milton winning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
The Illini are facing off against Iowa tomorrow at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, for the second round of the Big Ten baseball tournament after losing their opener to Penn State. The team will begin NCAA playoff games on May 31.
