Coaching on and off the field

Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Sports

Assistant SIUE baseball coach Dave Crouthers, who graduted from SIUE and played for the Cougars from 1998 to 2001, now helps students keep their grades up to NCAA regulations.

Dave Crouthers walks into his office in the SIUE Athletics Department around 9 a.m. each day to begin assisting student athletes with their grades.

The Athletics Academic Advising graduate assistant gives Jaci DeClue, assistant athletic director, a hand in helping the athletes keep their grade point averages within the NCAA guidelines.

"It's just rewarding to be able to work with the kids and not only see them grow as athletes, but as students as well," Crouthers said.

However, not too long ago Crouthers was lighting the radar gun and trying to keep hitters guessing in minor league baseball. Like many players, the former Cougar hurler had dreams of pitching in the big leagues and, according to SIUE Baseball Head Coach Gary Collins, he had the tools to get there.

"He threw 96 (miles per hour)," Collins said.

Crouthers was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the 2001 amateur draft and was the highest draft pick in school history. After four seasons in the minors, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the heralded Sammy Sosa deal, where he, current Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot and Texas Rangers outfielder Jerry Hairston went to the windy city while Sosa went to the "Charm City."

Shortly after the February 2005 trade, Crouthers unexpectedly retired. Crouthers said he suddenly had the "inability to throw strikes," and decided to come home to SIUE and his hometown, Edwardsville.

"I came back to school, finished my (bachelor's) degree that summer and the following fall," Crouthers said.

Crouthers said Collins gave him a shot at coaching while he finished his bachelor's degree in psychology and he took it. He helped coach the Cougar baseball team for two seasons before moving on to the Athletics Department offices.

Collins said Crouthers brought tremendous experience and wisdom to the team. "(Crouthers) did a great job working with the hitters and the outfielders," Collins said. "I was really hoping to keep him around for a long time, but he just decided he didn't want to coach."

Page 1 of 3 next >

Be the first to comment on this story