Jerry Halstead Achieves 1,000 Career Wins

Halstead is congratualted with an electronic message at Rent One Park.

On March 10, the John A. Logan College baseball team swept a doubleheader with Rend Lake College, winning the first game, 5-2, and taking the nightcap, 2-1. The victory in game two gave Jerry Halstead, head coach of the Volunteers, his 1,000th career win. Halstead says reaching that milestone is rewarding but he couldn't have done it alone.

"I feel fortunate that I've had the opportunity to coach at Logan," he said. "The administration has been very supportive throughout my career, and this is a tribute to the College's commitment to having a first-class baseball program."

Halstead also credits his assistant coaches and players for his accomplishments.

"I've had great assistant coaches over the years," he said. "Robin Pauls was my first assistant. He was followed by Gerry Miller and then Terry Crain. Now Tim Williams has been with me for the past 17 seasons. These men have all been dedicated to winning and worked hard to build this program. They helped recruit some great players, and without those players, our success wouldn't have been possible."

Halstead says winning 1,000 games was never a goal he set for himself.

"As a coach, I've never said I want to achieve a certain number of wins," he said. "Every year we put a bunch of guys together and work to get better as the season moves along. We hope our student-athletes develop and improve so they can move on to play at four-year universities or play professionally. That's our major goal, and if we do that, the wins will take care of themselves."

Halstead is in his 25th season at Logan and his consistency as a coach has been impressive. Averaging over 41 victories per year, he has won nine conference titles, six Region 24 championships, and made two NJCAA National Tournament appearances. He has produced 10 NJCAA All-Americans, and 14 former Volunteers are currently playing professional baseball, with four competing in the major leagues. His 1,000 wins ranks sixth in the nation among active community college coaches, but he has no intention of resting on his laurels.

"It's been a great ride, and I'm very pleased, but it's not something I'll dwell on," Halstead said. "We're getting into conference play now, and that's where my focus is."