Dave Randall is in his 33rd year directing the Chiefs’ baseball program, the longest current tenure in any sport for the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region IV. Inducted into the Region IV Hall of Fame in 2005, his successful reign was also recognized in 2002 with his induction into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Respected for his fairness and honesty, he serves as Awards Chairman for the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Association Committee and is the Region IV Code of Conduct chairman.
Randall’s teams have been ranked in the top-15 of the NJCAA’s non-scholarship Division III polls for 15 of the last 18 years. Entering this season, the Chiefs’ baseball program has amassed 728 wins under his direction, despite playing a majority of their games each season against scholarship schools. The lone non-scholarship baseball program in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC), Waubonsee has captured the league title in 1984, 1988 and 1998.
In 1996, Coach Randall led the Chiefs to a second-place finish at the NJCAA Division III World Series. He also has guided Waubonsee to sectional titles in 1992 and 1993, along with Region IV Division III crowns in 1996 and 1998. Additionally, the Chiefs have reached the title game of the Region IV Tournament six times with Randall at the helm. Over the years, Randall has been honored with numerous other awards including the prestigious Chicago Hit and Pitch Junior College Coach of the Year award in 1996. In addition to his many athletic achievements, Randall was recognized as Waubonsee’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 1984.
Coach Randall’s track record of commitment to education and athletics is evident as 85 percent of his players have transferred to a senior institution and more than 155 have played college baseball at that institution. Under his tutelage 77 of his players have participated in the Region IV All-Star game, while 78 have been selected All-Region and an equal number have been named to the All-Skyway First Team. Waubonsee has had 10 NJCAA All-Americans and a dozen former Chiefs have had the opportunity to play professionally during his tenure. A true teacher of the game and its fundamentals, overall Randall has had 35 former players go on to coach at either the prep or collegiate level.
Randall became Waubonsee’s Athletic Manager in 1984, where he oversees a 13-team athletic department. In other administrative roles, Randall is the baseball chairman for the ISCC, directs the Region IV Junior College All-Star game, manages the baseball statistical program for the Region IV, and is the former baseball chairman for the Region IV. An active member of the community, Randall is involved in the promotion of area baseball and softball. Randall operates the Waubonsee Hitting Camps, runs the Fox Valley Baseball League, coaches with the Northern Illinois Thunder fastpitch softball organization, speaks at several baseball camps throughout the northern Illinois region, and is even a certified umpire.
The Kaneland High School graduate was a two-year starter in centerfield for the Chiefs, serving as team captain his sophomore year. Randall earned an associate’s degree from Waubonsee in 1973 and continued his education at the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from UW-LaCrosse and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. Randall and his wife Kathy reside in Aurora and have two daughters, Rebecca and Jessica, who played softball for Waubonsee in 2006 and 2007. |