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Moeller moves on from Westminster Christian

Westminster Christian baseball coach Jeff Moeller resigned last Monday, a decision announced to families of Westminster Christian School via an email from athletic director Rick Palmer on Sunday.

Moeller coached the Warriors for 12 seasons (188-152), highlighted by a Class 1A state championship in 2010. He is the only coach to lead a team from Elgin to an IHSA baseball state championship. His resignation coincided with the two-year anniversary of winning the 2010 state title.

“A bunch of little things have added up,” Moeller said. “I have a growing commitment with the five teams in the Elgin Warriors travel organization I’ve started, and I’ve got a coaching staff that’s moving on.”

Longtime Westminster Christian pitching coach Juan Perez and assistant Nathan Perez stepped down at the end of the 2012 season.

“I would have had to replace pretty much the whole coaching staff, and there were different issues at the school,” Moeller added. “I just wanted to move on.”

Moeller took over a nascent baseball program in 2001-02 and went 1-17 in his first season. However, in time the Warriors developed into a small-school state power. He led Westminster Christian to 4 regional titles, 2 sectional titles and 2 supersectional titles. His teams won 25 or more games every year between 2007-11.

The Warriors finished 18-12 this season, their second in Class 2A, despite playing four freshmen regularly. Moeller’s final game was a 3-2 loss to St. Edward in a Class 2A regional semifinal at Richmond-Burton on May 17.

Moeller was also instrumental in the construction of the school’s baseball facility. He oversaw the field’s development and put in countless man hours helping construct it.

“The program has seen amazing change under Jeff’s leadership,” Westminster Christian athletic director Rick Palmer said in the statement. “He developed a program that is highly respected and a field that is viewed as one of the best in the area. I am grateful for the time he spent developing a winning program, and for the many hours he has invested into the development of the baseball field.”

Moeller said he is “at peace” with his decision and takes with him mostly fond memories.

“It’s unbelievable what’s happened since the beginning,” Moeller said. “From nothing to state champs. I know we’re probably recognized as one of the top 2A or 1A programs in the state, and I’m real proud of that.

“To get there it took great coaching, great coaches, great players and some great parents behind the scene supporting us. What a great experience to go through something like that.”

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