Courtney Van Haaften | Sports Co-Editor
Steve Eddie is currently in his 14th season as the head coach of the Buena Vista University (BVU) baseball team. On Friday, April 18 against the Dubuque Spartans, Eddie tallied his 300th career win.
Eddie has a long, successful history in the world of baseball. He spent his collegiate years playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, which includes being a part of the Big Ten Championship team in 1990. After college he continued his career in Minor League Baseball, playing for seven years with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox Minor League organizations.
In 1999, he ventured to BVU and became the assistant basketball and baseball coach while continuing his education. In 2001 he participated in his first season as the head baseball coach.
In his tenure as the Beavers’ head coach, Eddie has won the conference championship once in the year 2010. In that season he also led the team to the Division III World Series. He has also been named the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Coach of the Year two times, and the Central Region Coach of the Year once.
His dedication to the program and excellent coaching and recruiting skills over the past several years have allowed him to have such a successful career at BVU. He has also had several 30-win seasons, and is on track for another one this year.
His colleagues describe him as calm, competitive, and consistent. According to his staff, he knows what it takes to be successful at this level.
“Steve is very consistent and is a great people person. He doesn’t clone or cookie-cut. Instead of trying to make everyone the same, he takes the strengths of everyone involved and uses them for the greater good of the team,” Assistant Coach Ryan Dupic said.
His players recognize the hard work he puts into the team, but also appreciate his willingness to have fun with them.
“I think the recruiting work that he has put into the program every year is a big part of his success. I love the fun that he has with all of us. He is always joking around and laughing with the players before and after the games and practice,” junior pitcher Scott Harris said.
“He coaches for the right reasons. It’s not about him and how good he can make himself look or how great his resume can be built up, it’s about the players and their experience here at Buena Vista,” Dupic said.
The Beavers currently sit at 29-7 (18-6) and are leading the IIAC standings. They wrap up their regular season this weekend in a four-game series against Loras College. The first pitch is Friday, May 2 at 3:30 in Storm Lake.
Photo courtesy of Steven Phelps
