A veteran of more than seven years in the game of baseball as either an assistant coach or an instructor, Adam Kowalski, a native of Arlington Heights, Ill., will be a part of the Shawnee State baseball coaching staff for the 2025 season on forward. Kowalski was hired and officially began work at the beginning of the fall semester.

 

"It's an incredible opportunity to work with Shawnee State head baseball coach (Rob) Ehlers," Kowalski said. "I've heard a lot of great things about him as a leader and person from previous players, as well as others who have gotten to know him over the course of his career. I'm excited to help build off of last season's success."

 

Kowalski, who began playing baseball at "around five or six years" of age by playing tee ball and coach pitch, and credited his father with being a major influence in his own love for the game itself, became a key contributor for a Buffalo Grove High School baseball program that made yearly progressions through the 6-3, 195-pound pitcher's time in high school playing for the Bison.

 

During Kowalski's senior season in 2013, Buffalo Grove -- a school located in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago who competed in the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) Class 4A realm, the largest classification in the state -- the Bison edged Waukegan High School, 7-6, in the regional quarterfinals in the Northbrook (Glenbrook North) Sectional Tournament, then stunned the state by defeating the top-ranked team in the sectional, Mundelin High School, by an 11-9 count in the regional semifinals.

 

Buffalo Grove ultimately lost to Palatine William Fremd High School, 4-3, in the Illinois High School Association's Class 4A Regional Finals -- but more than showcased their strength as William Fremd lost to eventual IHSA Class 4A State Runner-Up Libertyville by a scant 2-1 score in the IHSA Class 4A Sectional Semifinals themselves. Sectionals, in the IHSA, come after regionals, unlike the OHSAA, which does its postseason formatting in sectionals, districts, and then regionals prior to the state realm.

 

Following a season each at NCAA Division III North Park University in Chicago and Harper College at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) level, Kowalski, who grew an inch and added 35 pounds to stand at 6-4, 230, became a well-respected relief pitching piece at fellow NAIA member Indiana Tech.

 

While with the Warriors, Kowalski helped the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based institution go 44-14, 44-21 and 42-16-1 over his three seasons -- ultimately culminating in a 130-51-1 overall record with three NAIA Opening Round trips in a row. The veteran pitcher helped lead Indiana Tech to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference's Championship Series in 2018, then was a key piece again to the Warriors' success in 2019 as Indiana Tech claimed the WHAC Conference Tournament Championship in 2019.

 

Kowalski capped off his senior season with a bang -- as Indiana Tech, in its NAIA Opening Round affairs, defeated Lyon (Ark.) 8-3 and NAIA perennial powerhouse Cumberlands (Ky.) twice by 10-5 and 6-4 margins to help the Warriors advance to the 2019 NAIA World Series. There, Indiana Tech defeated Bellevue (Neb.) by a 3-2 margin in 10 innings in its first contest of the NAIA World Series. It ultimately took losses to top-seeded and eventual NAIA Champion Tennessee Wesleyan and a 6-5 10-inning setback to Southeastern (Fla.) to knock the Warriors out in an impressive showing that saw Kowalski be a part of a team that made its first NAIA World Series appearance in 16 years.

 

 

Kowalski, who has spent time coaching at four different collegiate programs -- including one of his former playing stops, Harper College, for two baseball seasons -- added to his winning pedigree over the summer months of 2024.

 

Serving as an assistant coach for the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwoods League -- a summer collegiate baseball league that includes top-level players from the NAIA, NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, and NJCAA realms of the game -- Kowalski was a pivotal part of an organization that posted the second-highest single-season winning percentage (.583) and the second-most wins in a single-season (42) in the history of the organization as well as the second-ever Northwoods League Championship in the history of the organization.

 

While assisting the Growlers in achieving that goal, Kowalski led the organization to a league-best in WHIP (1.34), first-pitch strike percentage (58.3%) and complete games (five), as well as the second-best overall earned run average and the third-lowest opponents' batting average. Kalamazoo also collected a dozen Pitcher of the Night Awards under Kowalski's direction.

 

To top it off, Kowalski helped the Growlers achieve the above accomplishments -- while coaching in 72 games over a 76-day stretch. Kalamazoo not only won the the Northwoods South Division Championship by one run, a 3-2 victory over the Madison Mallards, but also won the Northwoods League Championship by a run as the Growlers defeated the La Crosse Loggers, 8-7, in the title game via walkoff fashion.

 

By joining a coaching staff that consists of winners in the form of Shawnee State head coach Rob Ehlers as well as Drew Lowe, Kowalski certainly has his eyes set in guiding Shawnee State to a River States Conference Championship -- and beyond. However, Kowalski also wants to help guide the players involved with the Shawnee State baseball program to a better life off of the baseball diamond, as well.

 

"My goal is to ensure that our players leave Shawnee State with a degree," Kowalski said. "Athletically, I'm looking to help build on last season, and to continue towards our goal of competing for conference and national tournaments."