Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Oct. 18, 2020 -- Cementing himself in both the North Central College and NCAA Division III record books, head softball coach Jim Kulawiak is calling it a career after 32 seasons at the helm of the program that he turned into a national contender.
 
The program recorded just six winning seasons in the 13 years prior to Kulawiak's leadership, but would not have another losing season over his 32 years as head coach as his 860 wins during his tenure currently rank 11^th all-time in Division III history.
 
"The core of the man (Kulawiak) is very much rooted in fundamentals, competitiveness, passion and genuinely caring about his student-athletes lives," said athletic director Jim Miller '86.  "To work as coaches and colleagues together for the last 33 years, it's been a privilege to work with him this long.  I'm happy for him and his wife Sandy that they can go on with the next chapter of their life and be able to spend more time together."
 
Known to his peers as Coach K, he was hired as the sixth coach in program history prior to the 1989 season, leading his teams to seven College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships, while also claiming seven CCIW Tournament championships and qualifying for the NCAA Regional on 12 occasions.  He was named CCIW Coach of the Year eight times (1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2008. 2009, 2018) as well as Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1989 and was inducted into the North Central College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
 
"We instilled a philosophy from the beginning and that philosophy has proved pretty sound over the years," said Kulawiak.  "In years where you may lack talent, if you get players to believe in themselves and teach them well you can still accomplish great things.
 
"I've always told players, even when times are difficult and experiences may not turn out how you want them to, it's worthwhile.  The value of going through it is all part of life experience, it has merit to a great extent."
 
The Cardinals' best season under Kulawiak's tutelage came in 2001 as the squad finished 45-11 en route to a NCAA Regional championship, while finishing fifth at the Division III College World Series.
 
Over his 32 seasons at the helm, 130 players earned All-CCIW accolades, including six CCIW Player of the Year and three CCIW Pitcher of the Year awards.  Additionally, 70 players were named All-Region, while Shannon Pedersen (2001) and Emily Miller (2018) each earned All-America honors.
 
Kulawiak's student-athletes not only excelled on the playing field, as 95 players were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athletes and two earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors (Heather Green in 1996 and Emily Miller in 2020).

"At the time Coach K was hired, every full-time hire was as a teacher/coach, so you had a teaching load each term, up to 25 advisees and everybody had to coach two sports," said Miller.
 
"Coming off the heels of winning a softball state championship at Morton High School, coach Kulawiak was hired primarily for softball but along with that came men's soccer.  He had never coached soccer but he was such a good coach and recruiter that once he learned the rules and more about the game he led the team to two conference titles in the era when Wheaton College was a national power and winning national titles."
 
Despite having no experience coaching soccer, Kulawiak still stands as the winningest men's soccer coach in North Central history, coaching both sports from 1989 to 1999.  In his 11 seasons as head men's soccer coach, Kulawiak posted a 111-75-11 record while leading the program to CCIW Championships in 1991 and 1994.  He coached 39 All-CCIW award winners, four All-Midwest Region players and 1994 CCIW Player of the Year Joe Stojaspal.
 
"When I think back, I have no idea how I recruited and coached two sports, fundraised for two sports, taught classes and advised students," said Kulawiak.  "A lot of coaches today don't realize what people before them had to build and endure to afford people what they have today."
 
In typical fashion, Kulawiak refuses to take sole responsibility of the success of both programs during his tenure, instead giving gratitude to his players, assistants and colleagues.
 
"All of the assistants I've had over the years have been terrific, there have been so many people that have been helpful to me and I can't begin to thank them all enough. 
 
"I can't say enough about my brother, Tom Kulawiak, his loyalty and dedication to this program and school, he will recruit and go anywhere he is asked to go.  I think he's as good as anybody at calling a game when it comes to pitch selection.
 
"I also want to thank Marty Sauer and Jim Miller, I honestly believe that between the two of them, they are a big reason for the success of the entire athletic program over the last 15 years.  Not that there haven't been some great athletes and coaches, but when you look at the entire program, those two are as much responsible for the success as anyone.  It's necessary to have that leadership to get those coaches and athletes to campus, I thank those two an awful lot for what they have done over the years and certainly to Al Carius as well for his leadership not only as a coach but as an administrator in the early years of my time here."
 
While it was a difficult decision to come to, Kulawiak believes this is the best decision for him and his family and will stay on until November 30 to finish out the fall season with the team.
 
"I think the program will continue to do very well and continue to compete at the highest level," said Kulawiak.  "Our facility is very good, our talent level is also very good right now and the program looks very healthy, I wish the program well moving forward."