Veteran coach saluted for early career in prep sports, lasting contributions to the game
Kirkwood Community College baseball coach John Lewis was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the 42nd Annual IHSBCA ceremony on Jan. 30.
“I am honored to be part of the organization and their hall of fame,” said Lewis. Ceremonies were held at the Cedar Rapids Marriott Hotel.
Lewis has been a coach at Kirkwood for 30 years and has compiled a 1,042-531 record. His colleagues and teammates honored Lewis in May 2008 when he crossed the 1,000-win career mark.
In each of his 30 seasons at Kirkwood, Lewis has guided the Eagles to a winning record. Before his arrival, Kirkwood had only one winning season during the first 11 years of the program.
Lewis has guided the Eagles to several national tournament appearances, including notable finishes in 1993 (eighth), 1995 (second), 1998 (third) and 1999 (fifth).
The selection to the IHSBCA Hall of Fame adds to the honors bestowed on Lewis, who has been named Iowa Junior College Coach of the Year six times and District B Coach of the Year four times.
With the latest honor bestowed, Lewis now looks ahead to his thirty-first season at Kirkwood…and more wins on the stat sheets.