Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner (by year)
2015 Comet Friend of the Program Winner- Mr. Brian Lown
Coach Lown served as the Frosh-Soph Coach this season. However, due to a shortage of players at key positions with the Varsity, often times players were taken from the Frosh-Soph team and brought to the Varsity on very short notice. Often, Coach Lown did not know who would be dressing for his games until the afternoon of the contest. Obviously, this had a negative affect on the young Comet team.
Through it all, Coach Lown remained positive and loyal to the total program. He made the most of his situation and his team responded in like manner.
"Brian did an outstanding job for us in a difficult situation," stated Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "He kept the Frosh-Soph program going through some tough times. We were lucky to have someone with his abilities in charge."
"Brian took another job outside our district after the school year and we will certainly miss him. We wish him good luck and thank him for his contibutions."
2014 Comet Friend of the Program Winner- Mr. Brian DuBois
It might be said that Brian DuBois has come full circle. His selection as the Comet Friend of the Program for 2014 is only fitting as he has won virtually every players' award that exists in the Comet baseball program. As a three time Comet MVP, Top Hitter and Top Pitcher, while leading his team to a State Championship as the tourney MVP, Brian had a monopoly on R-C baseball awards. Now, as a coach, he adds the final award to his trophy case.
The most heralded athlete to come out of Reed-Custer, the two time All-Stater, All-American and fourth round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, left Reed-Custer in a blaze of glory. After a Major League playing career and a stint working in central Illinois, Brian returned to his roots and became the Comets' Pitching Coach, what else?
"I have often told Brian he should have been a teacher," says Comet Head Coach, Jerry Cougill. "He has a knack of successfully dealing with young people, regardless of their age or background. It has been fun seeing him grow in his role and seeing him enjoy it more each day. He has a genuine affection for our athletes."
"Brian served as a volunteer," continued Cougill, "but his concern for our players was full time. We could not be happier to have him back in our program...and winning awards."
2013 Comet Friend of the Program Winner- Mr. Chuck Anderson
Chuck Anderson will be a triple threat winner of the Comet Friend of the Program Award. The 1985 R-C graduate was a starter on the Comets' State Championship diamond squad, the only state crown in school history. He also has served as a coach/statistician in the program and, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, Chuck will assume the duties of District Athletic Director.
"I have known Chuck and his family for a long time," cites Head Coach, Jerry Cougill. "He and his wife, Sara, are model members of our community and I have had the privilege to coach their two sons. I could not be prouder of any of our former Comet players."
"Chuck is always available to lend a helping hand. Seeing successful athletics here at RCHS is very important to him. He is richly derserving of this honor."
Mr. Anderson has been the Business Department Head at Lockport High School, prior to his new role at R-C.
2012 Comet Friend of the Program Winner- Mr. Chris Vidmar
In just his first year as a volunteer assistant coach with the Comets, Chris Vidmar has made his mark on the program and is the recipient of this year's Comet Friend of the Program award. His efforts, while not being paid a stipend, are very much appreciated.
Chris assumed duties as the Varsity Hitting Coach as well as headed up the Comet winter strength and conditioning program. In addition, he helps with the Comet summer program. Chris has proven to be an invaluable asset to the development of Comet players.
"Not always in young coaches do you find one with both a strong work ethic and love of baseball. Chris is one of those rare finds," states Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "I have enjoyed watching him work with our players for a couple reasons. First, he works hard with players of all ability levels. It doesn't matter to Chris if he is working with the lowest Fr-So players, or the Varsity stars. Secondly, he brings a certain intensity to his coaching that the players pick up on. They realize he is giving them his best efforts every day."
"We really like what Chris brings to our program," continued Cougill. "He has shown a real committment to our Reed-Custer athletes. I have no doubt that, with his passion, he will continue to grow in his profession and will make a fine Head Coach."
Coach Vidmar graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy, before moving on to Joliet Junior College and Western Illinois University. He was a catcher at all three stops and has a degree in Physical Education. He resides in Channahon.
2011 Comet Friend of the Program Winner- Mr. Rich Walden
Rich is the third former Comet player who has returned to help the Comet Baseball program. The 1975 grad and former outstanding first baseman for one of Head Coach Jerry Cougill's first Comet teams, has been very generous with his time and dedication on behalf of Reed-Custer baseball players. He was one of the architects of the Future Comets travel baseball program, as he served as the chief administrator, as well as a team manager for the past 3 years. Coach Walden's teams have shown constant and steady progress as the Future Comets captured the I-80 League title this past summer. As much as any other person, he is responsible for the revitalization of the Reed-Custer Middle School feeder program. As a volunteer coach at both the high school and middle school, Coach Walden has worked tirelessly with players of all age groups in the program.
"Rich really loves being a part of the baseball program and his contributions have been immeasurable," says Cougill. "He loves teaching and interacting with the players and coaches. His love for the game comes out in everything he does and there is nothing that he does for the program that is not done with enthusiasm. There were many days he would go straight from our high school practice to another practice session with our travel kids. He is the first person to the ballpark everyday. Rich is truly deserving of this honor and exemplifies what the award should be."
Coach Walden, who is a retired Will County Sheriff's Deputy, lives in Braidwood with his son, Jordan, an infielder in the Comet baseball program.
2010 Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner - Mr. Chad Klover
Chad Klover is the first winner of the Comet Friend of the Program Award who is not the parent of a player in the baseball program. Through his efforts he continues to uphold the high standards of previous award winners. First as a player and now as a coach, Chad has had a hand in nearly every facet of the Comet Baseball program. He has given tirelessly in coaching, fundraising, camps, construction projects around the ballpark, attending clinics, serving as a mentor to new coaches, off season workouts and generally providing overall support to the program. It has been through his efforts that R-C has developed an effective feeder system at the middle school and frosh-soph levels.
"Chad has been an unbelievable source of help in our efforts to move forward with the baseball program," according to Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "He has many talents on which we have come to depend. In fact, I don't make a decision that involves RC baseball without first consulting him. That's because he has such a stake in the program and because I value his opinion. I have never once gone to him with an idea for something new in the program, something which will most certainly mean more work for him, and not had him meet that suggestion with enthusiasm. His work ethic is unmatched and he has been a great friend to both me and RC baseball."
Chad is a lifelong resident of Braidwood and is the youngest of 4 brothers, all of whom were Comet athletes. He lives with his wife, Megan. Chad coaches the seventh grade baseball squad in the fall and teaches in the social science department at RCHS.
2009 Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner - Mr. Mike Fisher
In the brief, four year history of the Reed-Custer High School Hustlin' Comet Baseball Friend of the Program Award, the bar has been set very high. All three previous winners have demonstrated a great friendship and possessed the talents to help with the many projects that have been undertaken to make Comet Baseball a positive experience for our student/athletes.
Mike Fisher, the 2009 Friend of the Program Award Winner, certainly adds to the legacy of previous winners. He has been an integral part of several projects, including the refurbishing of the Comet Park playing surface, repainting the backstop and numerous fundraising efforts. In addition, he has taken on the responsibility of organizing and coaching several summer teams and he has been the scorekeeper for either high school or middle school games
"Mike has been an unbelievably important person to us in the baseball program," cites Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "He has a lot of the technological knowledge we need in many of our projects and is very unselfish with his time. He is in it for the kids and has coached virtually everyone of our players at one point or another. He even keeps a detailed scouting report for us that we use extensively. It has been a pleasure working along side of him and our program depends on people like Mike in our quest to make RCHS baseball second to none."
Mike and his wife, Connie, live in rural Custer Park and are the parents of three children. Mike and Connie's son, Chase, is a three year starter on the infield for the Comets.
2008 Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner - Mr. Jim King
To continue moving forward every program needs someone to lend it a helping hand. Comet Baseball has that "helping hand" in Mr. Jim King. For the past two years he has served a visible role as the "Voice of the Comets" at R-C home games. For for many more years he has served the program as a youth league volunteer and as the district's Director of Operations his support has been invaluable.
"Jim is part of the reason that working at Reed-Custer is such a positive experience," stated Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "If I come to Jim with a problem, or an idea, he will do what he can to help. It's probably because he is a former Board President, has had his own children go through our school and just wants to see things done right, but he really does do an outstanding job for us and the District. He has really helped smooth out a lot of bumps in the road for us in the baseball program over the past few years and we could not have accomplished many of the things we have done without his help. He truly is a 'Friend of the Program' "
Jim and his wife, DeeDee, live in rural Custer Park and are the parents of four children. Jim's son Alex was an All-Conference and All-Area performer at second base for the Comets.
2007 Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner - Mr. Chris "Skip" Tarran
Skip Tarran bleeds black and gold! He has a highly visible leadership role as the Athletic Director at RCHS. However, what many people do not see are the many behind the scenes things he does to keep Comet Athletics moving forward.
The baseball coaching staff, players and parents have seen, firsthand, just some of the things that the hardest working man in the I-8 does for R-C. He has given unwavering support to the efforts of the Comet diamondmen.
Head Coach Jerry Cougill had this to say, "When we were going through some tough times with our renovation and were running short of money and getting pretty frustrated, it was Skip who bailed us out and kept us going forward. Three years ago when we hosted a Regional he was out on our field at 5:30 AM before school with a weed eater working on the warning track. When we made it to state last year, the first face our team saw as we approached Silver Cross Field was Skip as he was there waiting for us, showing us where to park and doing what he could to help us along the way. He has always put in the hours for our program and we wanted him to know he is appreciated."
Skip and his wife Bonnie reside in
2006 Comet Friend of the Program Award Winner - Mr. Wally Evans
For his many contributions to the Reed-Custer baseball program over the years, we are proud to award the first Comet Friend of the Program Award to Mr. Wally Evans of Braidwood.
A former Comet player, Wally has been actively involved at all levels of the Reed-Custer baseball program, including both the middle school and high school. He initiated the Future Comets traveling baseball team and has been a major contributor in fundraising and field improvement efforts at R-C, as well as serving successfully as a coach on several Reed-Custer teams.
"Wally has been a huge factor in the improvements we have made in our program and our ballpark," says Head Coach Jerry Cougill. "He has given so much to our program that it would be impossible to calculate how much he has meant to us. He is truly deserving of this honor and exemplifies what the award should be."
Wally and his wife, Suzie, live in Braidwood. Wally's son, Jacob, is a pitcher for the Comet Varsity.
