Softball: ‘A legend within the sport’ — Elk Grove’s Grams retires with state record 1,066 victories
When asked what was the most important reason for becoming the all-time winningest coach in IHSA softball history with 1,066 victories, Elk Grove's Ken Grams hardly flinched.
In the way he always has, he responded by directing his success to others.
"The people," he answered. "The kids. We’ve had some terrific and dedicated players go through here. And the assistant coaches — there have been many who I am ever grateful to. I cannot ever thank them enough.
"If I would name them here, I fear I might forget to list someone and I don’t want that to happen. If any of them are seeing this, your contributions to all of this were not unnoticed. Thank you."
Grams wasn't quite finished.
"And, of course the support from the Elk Grove administration and the parents, families and community," he said. “They have all been so good, so good, so good to me."
No one has been as good as Grams, who was inducted into the IHSA softball hall of fame in 2004, in winning softball games in this state.
Grams' 1,066 wins since 1981 are 22 more than St. Joseph-Ogden's retired Randy Wolken (1,044) and 24 ahead of current Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who coached one season at St. Viator in 1992 and then took over at Barrington in 1993.
"Personally, I am forever grateful to Ken for my opportunities with high school softball," Peterson said. "When Barrington High School last looked for a head softball coach following the 1992 season, it was Ken who convinced (then Barrington) athletic director Bob Carpenter to give me an interview at the young age of 22 years old. Ken and I have worked side by side for three decades and I could not ask for a kinder friend and colleague to share all of these experiences with. He is a legend within the sport."
And Grams is much more than just a legend in area softball.
Still substitute teaching at Elk Grove, where he began in 1966 when the school opened its doors, Grams has announced every home football game since that year and will continue to do so this season.
A 1958 Arlington high school graduate, Grams was also the Elk Grove head boys basketball coach for eight seasons from 1976-77 to 1983-84, posting a 125-92 record. He steered the Grenadiers to two division titles and three 20-win seasons. He was also coach for the lower levels at Elk Grove dating back to the year before the school officially opened when he served as the freshman boys basketball coach at Forest View High School in Arlington Heights for the 1965-66 season.
But when he took over the softball team in 1981 with co-coach Doug Millstone, little did anyone know he would put the Grens on the softball map.
"The impact that Ken Grams has made on Elk Grove High School and Mid-Suburban League softball is immeasurable," Peterson said. "He was the voice of consistent reason that strengthened our softball conference for decades. Ken impacted hundreds of Grenadier softball players with his magical way of interacting with his players and coaches."
It was 1980 when Grams and Millstone were asked shortly before the season started if they could help out because the current coach was having health issues.
"I really didn't know what the next year would bring," Grams said. "Who knew it would bring 46 more years."
Along with three state trophies including a runner-up in 1982, third in 2010 and fourth in 2012. He also led the Grens to 21 regional titles and five sectional titles. He won 21 MSL divisional titles and four MSL title games.
But as he starts his 60th year at Elk Grove, this will be the first where he will not be serving as a coach.
"It feels a bit different now," he said. "I would usually be tracking down (softball) players at this time, checking how their summers went for them, what their class schedule is like, seniors plans for next year, getting underclassmen thoughts for this year regarding softball, etc. So, yes, things are a little different already."
It wasn't a complete surprise that Grams decided to step down from softball.
"I’d been talking to the principal, AD and my assistant coaches for the last couple of years about the timing and how it may affect their obligations regarding the sport, so it certainly was not an impulsive thing," he said. "And it was getting a bit more difficult physically. I felt I was asking more and more of my assistants to do the heavy lifting.“
Grams said the biggest thing he will miss is the athletes, the camaraderie with the coaches and the game itself.
"It's a great sport," added Grams, who was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. "I get asked if the kids have changed over the years. My answer is no. Things around them have changed, but they’re still teen-aged people."