Brian Bogda, head baseball coach at Crystal Lake South High School, will be inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Hall of Fame in early December at the IHSBCA Convention in Naperville. He was nominated for this honor by Mike Giese, baseball coach at Richmond-Burton High School, and selected by the IHSBCA Board of Directors as one of six coaches this year. He was chosen for his longstanding dedication to coaching, the success of his teams, and the positive influence he has had on hundreds of student-athletes over his career.

A graduate of Elmhurst College, Bogda was a four-year letter winner as both a pitcher and outfielder. Before beginning his high school coaching career, he worked for the Chicago White Sox Training Academy as an instructor and camp director. He started coaching at Huntley High School before joining Crystal Lake South, where he is entering his 24th year coaching and his 19th year as head baseball coach.

“I am humbled to receive this award and honor,” Bogda said. “I have been very blessed to work with some outstanding baseball players over the years, and I am excited to share this award with the many assistant coaches who have helped me and our players along the way.

Under Bogda’s leadership, Crystal Lake South has had remarkable success, including three conference championships, eight regional titles, two sectional titles, three IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Elite 8 appearances, and a 365-207 overall record. The Gators won the Class 4A State Championship in 2017 with a 36-5 record and returned to the IHSA State Finals in 2022, finishing fourth in Class 3A. More than 85 of his players have gone on to play at the collegiate level, and two have been drafted professionally: Ian Gardeck (San Francisco Giants, 2012) and Jacob Bimbi (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2024).