Dvorak directs Maine West softball program

Out of the business for nearly ten years, Jim Dvorak is back in business

Maine West's dean of students, who was an assistant softball coach at Glenbard North from 2001 to 2007, has been named the Warriors head softball coach in Des Plaines.

Aaron Moore, former general manager for the Rosemont Bandits, had accepted the Maine West job earlier this year.

However, after the village of Rosemont bought the professional softball team, Moore was forced to find another job and the Maine West position was open again.

After discussing the situation with Maine West athletic director Jarett Kirshner, Dvorak decided the time was right to take his first head softball job.

"I'm excited," he said. " We've got a lot of good senior leadership with five seniors returning and we are starting three freshmen."

Starting freshmen is hardly unfamiliar to the rookie head coach.

In his first year as Jim McKinney's assistant at Glenbard North, the Panthers took third place in the Class AA state tournament. and the team included more than a handful of freshmen.

Dvorak was dean of students at the Carol Stream school when McKinney was due to undergo a medical procedure and asked Dvorak if he would help out with the program.

Dvorak was put in charge of the junior varsity team.

"We started out like 20-0 that season and after that, Jimmy said 'hey you're coming up with me as my assistant,' and that next year we took third in the state with six or seven freshman." Dvorak said. "The next three years we went 35-5, 35-5 and 39-2 but never got back to state."

Dvorak, who has a 10 year old son Drew and 8-year old daughter Lauren, grew up in North Riverside and attended Riverside-Brookfield High School. His primary sports were cross-country and track and field, in which he specialized in the 800 meter run.

He grew up spending many hours playing baseball and 16-inch softball but track and field was the sport in which he excelled.

He also ran the 800-meter for the men's track team at Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State).

Dvorak enlisted in the military after his freshman year, and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

After graduating from Northeast Missouri, Dvorak studied at Illinois State where he received his master's degree in sports administration. While at ISU as a grad assistant, he taught a class in the Horton Field House that involved the analysis and technique of coaching softball.

He did an internship at nearby University High (Normal) under the guidance of former IHSA Assistant Executive Director Dave Gannaway, who was then assistant principal and athletic director at U-High.

"He had me work as an official for a state indoor track meet at the time." Dvorak said. "Dave was a very important part of my becoming an administrator."

Now Dvorak hopes to be an important part of Maine West softball history.

He has named a familiar face, Jerry Stonequuist, to serve as his assistant.

"I've really been counting on Jerry for a lot, and he's been great," Dvorak said. "He has such a great relationship from being so established in the program (longtime time underlevel coach who also assists in West's tradition-rich girls basketball program). He's been a great fit coming up to the varsity."

Dvorak's only previous varsity stint was at Riverside-Brookfield where he led the cross county team for the 1992-93 season.

Dvorak was also the dean of students at Marian Central High School from 1994 to 1998 before taking the same position at Glenbard North for the 1998-99 school year. It was there where he wet his appetite for softball with McKinney's successful run as the Panthers' coach.

"He called me right away when he heard (about taking the West job)," Dvorak said. "And I've heard from a lot of other coaches (including former Riverside Brookfield hall of famer Larry Rocco and former highly-successful West Chicago coach Jim Schaudt). All the guys were excited I'm getting back into it."

And Dvorak is just as excited to see how successful the Warriors can be.

"First of all, I feel you need a strong pitcher and you must play fundamental defense," he said. "I don't like giving up runs. I've seen in past years a lot of high-scoring games. I like keeping the score low."