“I would like to thank Coach Worrell for everything he has done for Illinois College since his arrival in 1996,” said Director of Athletics Mike Snyder. “Mike has impacted so many students over his 22 years of service to Illinois College. His dedication to the men’s basketball program and the growth of the young men on his teams is admirable. He will leave a lasting impression on the program and I wish Mike the very best.”

A two-time winner of the Midwest Conference Coach of the Year award, Worrell took over the reins of the Illinois College program from Bill Merris ’56 prior to the 1996-97 season and had the Blueboys in the MWC Tournament by his third season. Beginning with that 1998-99 season, IC qualified for four MWC Tournaments in a five-year span and broke through with a tournament title in 2002-03, putting Illinois College into the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in school history.

Worrell has taken Illinois College to five MWC Tournaments and produced 29 All-MWC performers in his time as head coach. His 200th career win came last season with a 77-75overtime triumph at Lake Forest College. Another important achievement Worrell has produced in his time at Illinois College is the formation of the Hampton and Passavant Shootouts each summer, bringing hundreds of junior high and high school basketball players to the IC campus for one of the largest summer shootouts in the state.

Illinois College baseball coach Jay Eckhouse ’78 has also made the decision to retire at the end of the 2018 season. Eckhouse became the Blueboy baseball coach prior to the 2002 season and enters his final year with 242 career victories.

Jay has made a huge impact on Illinois College since the day he first stepped foot on campus as a student-athlete,” said Director of Athletics Mike Snyder. “His successes on the field and relationships he has built led to his long-term success as our head baseball coach. Jay has impacted so many student-athletes over his time here both as a coach and as a mentor. As solid as a baseball coach as he is, his personal, welcoming demeanor is what will be missed the most. I wish Jay the best on his retirement and know that he is always welcome here within IC Athletics.”

A 1978 graduate of Illinois College who played both baseball and football, Eckhouse was a three-year starting first baseman for the Blueboys as well as a four-year starting quarterback. In 1988, he was inducted into the Illinois College Sports Hall of Fame. After coaching high school baseball at his alma mater, Alton Marquette, and at Jacksonville High School, Eckhouse was named the head coach of the Illinois College program prior to the 2002 season.

In his time with the Blueboys, the team has made four Midwest Conference Tournament appearances, while Eckhouse has become the second-winningest coach in school history behind his college coach and the namesake for the IC baseball facility, Joe Brooks. Illinois College has had two 21-win seasons in his tenure, one win behind the 1995 team for the most wins in a single season in school history. The 2004 MWC Coach of the Year, Eckhouse has led 53 First Team All-MWC South Division selections, 16 Second Team All-MWC South Division selections, four MWC South Division Co-Players of the Year, and one MWC South Division Pitcher of the Year.