A SWCC athletics reunion

The podium stood empty as speaker Bill Krejci instead weaved through tables, calling out familiar faces and shaking hands as he gave his speech at SWCC’s annual athletic fundraiser Nov. 6.

It was like a family reunion, but instead of seeing Uncle Dave and Great-Aunt Paula, it was Krejci recognizing former athletes like Brad Baker and Naomi [Hoffman] Sharp.

Now living in Illinois with his wife after 36 years with Southwestern Community College, it was like coming back home for Krejci.

“I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart – I miss every one of you,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to come back, and I apologize for not coming back more.”

He said his two good excuses for not visiting much are his two grandkids.

Krejci listed numerous audience members who were athletes who “gave their heart and soul to this athletic department.”

Local names like Tracey Evans, basketball and softball player, Hannah North, former softball player and Kate Burrell, former volleyball star, Krejci brought up their sports and praised their talent.

“Scott Daugherty - freshman year, Scott hit .452 as an All-American,” Krejci said. “Then his sophomore year he got a girlfriend and hit .382.”

When he called out Baker, Baker got the first joke out.

“I played for the best baseball coach,” Baker said. “Unfortunately, I played basketball.”

Krejci said he recruited Baker after having just four wins his first season. “I won one game in November, one game in December, one game in January and one game in February,” Krejci said. “Brad came and helped turn it around for us. What a great athlete, what a great educator.”

The speech, which was really more a conversation, focused on the people who have helped Southwestern Community College become what it is today.

“The one thing I always remember about Creston and Southwestern is you people,” he said. “People came to our fundraisers, people came to our basketball games. The tremendous support you gave us over the years really truly makes a difference to our student athletes. You don’t know how much it does.”

Throughout his career, Krejci has coached 32 MLB players on USA National Teams. Krejci has been inducted into the St. Laurence High School Athletic Hall of Fame (1987), Northwest Missouri State Athletic Hall of Fame (1996) and the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2002).

In 2014, Krejci was inducted into the Southwestern Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2015, Krejci was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame. Krejci was named the 2022 USA Baseball Coach Educator of the year, as well as being nominated for USOPC 2022 Coach Educator of the Year.

The fundraiser aims to support athletic facility improvements.

Phase one is to install synthetic turf on the baseball and softball fields and construct new dugouts. In phase two, new restrooms, concession stand and indoor space for a batting cage will be built. Phase three includes constructing a facility to encompass a wrestling practice room and a weight training area.

Finally, phase four is to construct a new indoor athletic practice facility.

“We are going to be renovating our baseball and softball fields, and hopefully, with your support, we’re going to build an indoor facility that’s second to none for our students and our community,” Krejci said. “I’m so excited about it; it’s unbelievable.”