Haskins quits PR baseball; Pecoraro wants job back

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CRYSTAL LAKE – David Haskins was an instant success as head coach of the Prairie Ridge baseball team, guiding them to the IHSA Class 4A championship in his first season.

After his second season, Haskins has decided to move on. Prairie Ridge’s first baseball coach, Glen Pecoraro, is in the running to replace him.

Haskins accepted the head baseball coaching job at St. Charles East, school officials announced Tuesday.

Haskins said that his goal was to teach at the same school where he coached, and he saw dim prospects for becoming a teacher at Prairie Ridge.

“Nothing against PR, nothing against the building, the school, the community and stuff like that, they've been great,” Haskins said. “It was hard to think about it, but it was best for my family.”

St. Charles East athletic director Jerry Krieg said Haskins would remain a physical education teacher at the Special Education District of McHenry County in Woodstock next school year, but that he hoped to add him to the St. Charles East faculty within two to three years.

Haskins, 36, compiled a 61-16 record and two Fox Valley Conference Fox Division titles in two seasons at Prairie Ridge. The 2009 edition of the Wolves baseball team lost in a regional final game to Cary-Grove. The Trojans went on to finish fourth in the state tournament.

Pecoraro, who coached the Wolves from their inaugural season in 1998 until 2006, confirmed Tuesday that he had applied for the job.

Pecoraro teaches physical education at Prairie Ridge and has taught at District 155 schools for 17 years. He started at Crystal Lake Central and moved to Prairie Ridge when it opened for the 1997-98 school year.

He said he resigned as baseball coach in November 2006 because he wanted to spend more time with his family and further his education.

Pecoraro led Prairie Ridge’s baseball team to seven consecutive Class AA regional championships, produced several NCAA Division I and II players and compiled a 220-108 record in nine seasons as the Wolves’ varsity coach. He was named Northwest Herald baseball Coach of the Year in his final season.

“I wanted to do some of those other things that I didn’t take the time to do before,” Pecoraro said. “I feel now that I would love the opportunity again, I would feel very very luck and fortunate to get the opty again. There’s going to be a lot of great candidates so there’s no guarantees.”

Pecoraro already has returned to coaching. He led the Wolves’ freshman baseball team to a 23-11 mark this season.

• Shaw Suburban Media Reporter Kevin Druley contributed to this story.