Bartlett's Wolfsmith joins ICA Hall of Fame

When Bartlett's softball team kicks off its season Wednesday hosting Waubonsie Valley, Jim Wolfsmith will be found where he always is - coaching third base and wearing his khaki shorts and Hawks windbreaker, no matter how cold it might be.

That's been a staple for softball in this area for the last 15 seasons.

This year Wolfsmith will enter the season with a new honor under his belt after being inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame last month.

Wolfsmith was joined in the 2019 class by Vondell Edgar (Chatham Glenwood), Leonard Winchester (St. Joseph-Ogden), Lon Scheuerell (Orangeville) and Galen Sloven (Oblong).

"It means I'm old," Wolfsmith joked. "It's the kind of honor we get because we've had great kids and great parents. It's as much a recognition as a program as it is anything else. And yet it's a tremendous honor to be recognized by your peers."

Not bad for a guy who had no background in softball previously before coaching the Hawks. Also the boys basketball coach at Bartlett, Wolfsmith was much more familiar with that sport.

"I grew up in the city of Chicago so my idea of softball is 16-inch slow pitch," Wolfsmith said. "This whole we have to have a mitt concept blew my mind. But I tell you, I absolutely fell in love with the game. The game of softball is so unique. It really grew on me. The speed and explosiveness of the game."

Wolfsmith coached as an assistant for one year at Barlett; it was, as he said, his "first foray into the game of softball."

Wolfsmith said he got roped into being an assistant by his best friend Mario Serra, the Bartlett head softball coach at the time who left following that season.

That left Wolfsmith to take over, and he hasn't looked back. After going 24-11 last year, Wolfsmith enters his 16th season with a 366-162 record.

"As anybody would do, I soaked up as much knowledge as I could from coaches like Ken Grams (Elk Grove), travel coaches, parents who coached. Anyone who was willing to teach me something, I was willing to learn," Wolfsmith said.

The Hawks have produced numerous college players through the years and some big seasons among the state's best. Wolfsmith's 2012 team finished second in the Class 4A state tournament. The Hawks also made it to state in 2007 and have won six regional championships.

Wolfsmith said among his greatest joy in coaching has been watching the sport itself emerge like it has.

"Seeing a sport you coach grow in popularity in the time you are coaching it ... basketball has always been popular, football has always been popular. Girls softball was not on ESPN. It wasn't an Olympic sport," Wolfsmith said.

"During the time I've been a head coach I've seen this grow from a few kids playing occasionally to hundreds and thousands playing the sport and playing it collegiately. It's phenomenal to see that kind of growth. That's just awesome."

Now Wolfsmith turns his attention to another season about start, looking to pass along his knowledge to a young group with just two returning starters.

"We've had some great players come through the program. Great kids, great parents," Wolfsmith said. "Hopefully we keep that up."