Illinois Valley Central High School’s already prestigious baseball program just got another accolade.

On Sept. 23, the Illinois Baseball Coaches and Officials Association announced that IVC head baseball coach Jerry Rashid has been awarded the High School Coach of the Year award for baseball.

Rashid, who is in his fifth year at IVC, found out a month and a half ago by e-mail but could not celebrate it publicly until recently.

“It’s very humbling to be honored and thought of this way,” Rashid said, “but there are a lot of great coaches who don’t get awards because of their players or their program not going far into the playoffs. But it is nice to be recognized, and it really is an honor.”

Rashid, who is the first IVC coach to win this award, will now be considered for the national coach of the year award.

The association will inform him if he is a finalist for the award when their decision is finalized.

When asked about winning the award and what it means to him, Rashid gave the credit to those around him.

“You get honors like this because of good players and good assistants,” Rashid said. “Players that go out and work hard and do what you ask of them make the job easier.”

Rashid, who is also IVC’s varsity football team’s defensive coordinator, has had a successful tenure since becoming the head baseball coach at IVC.

In 2006, Rashid’s Grey Ghosts went 40-2 for the year and won the state championship.

Last year, Rashid’s Ghosts went to the state championship but came in second to Olympia.

Rashid, who celebrated his 600th win as a head coach, is already looking forward to the next season of Ghost baseball.

“I’m very much looking forward to next year,” Rashid said. “We have our top three pitchers back and are returning six starters. We’re going to miss a good senior class from last year, though. 

“We’re very much looking forward to what I think will be a productive season.  I’m excited about our younger players stepping in and keeping the IVC baseball tradition alive.”