Clinic Administrator Mike Stoecklin

Stoecklin is finishing his 14th year at the helm of the Saunemin, IL, Grade School athletic department, following his tenure and graduation from Greenville (IL) College and the GC Football program.  Following his hiring at Saunemin, he led the Eagles to a 7A State Runner-up in 1995 as the Eagles posted a 24-3 record.  In 1996, Saunemin returned to the IESA State Finals with an Elite 8 finish and 21-3 record.  Those teams were led by Loyola-Chicago's Jason Telford.  With the completion of this past season, Saunemin completes the most successful 3-year run at the 8th grade level in school history with a 45-22 record in that time frame, and 3 straight appearances in the IESA 8A Regional Championship.

At left, Stoecklin talking with guards Jamie Ramseyer & Randall Slown during a break in action, and directs Eric Green, below.

Stoecklin watches over the Eagles with long-time Asst. Craig Cramer and Eagle Daniel Mauser.

Stoecklin in a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and the Win the Tip National Basketball Coaches Network

See History of I-55/I-57 Clinic Below

Clinic Administrator Mike Stoecklin began his 'learning' of the game of basketball while behind the microphone working for both WGEL and WSMI Radio, both in southern Illinois.  After leaving the world of radio, Stoecklin returned to Greenville (IL) College to finish his degree in Elementary Education. While at Greenville, Stoecklin had the unique ability to both study and work with a number of successful and notable amateur athletic leaders.  He took athletic administration classes from Phyllis Holmes.  Holmes was a long-time women's basketball coach at Greenville.  While at GC, Holmes became the first woman ever to be elected President of the NAIA.  In 1999, Holmes was elected to the National Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Phyllis Holmes was a 1999 inductee into the National Women's Basketball Hall of Fame along with 2005 presenter Theresa Grentz of Illinois.

Dave Altopp served as President of the National Assoc. of Baseball Coaches

Former G.C. baseball coach, now at Lee University in TN, Dave Altopp and Stoecklin both served on the local Kingsbury Park District Board of Commissioners.  The district oversaw summer recreation programs in the Bond County (IL) area.  Altopp would leave Greenville for Lee University and recently served as the President of the NABC (National Association of Baseball Coaches).

Former Greenville (IL) College President, Robert 'Ish' Smith, spent many years as the President of the International Baseball Association and the North American Baseball Federation.  He is credited for bringing Baseball to the Olympics.  Seen at right in the Parade of Nations!

While at GC, Stoecklin was able to work with the office of then GC Vice President, Robert 'Ish' Smith.  Smith is widely regarded in the baseball world as one of the few people credited for baseball's inclusion in the Olympics.  Smith's contacts in the baseball world know no end, from Major League Baseball Commissioners, friendship with former L.A. manager Tommy Lasorda, to the promotion baseball in Cuba with Fidel Castro, Smith's influence was widely felt.  Smith would later serve as the President of Greenville College.

While serving as the Administrative Assistant to Greenville College head Football Coach Max Bowman, Stoecklin's learning 'took off' in the world of athletics.  'I learned more about the world of athleticsfrom Coach Bowman than I ever could in a textbook or in a classroom setting,' said Stoecklin.  'Only practical experience following my tenure as Max's assistant could continue the learning that he helped me nurture,' Stoecklin went on to say.  Bowman brought to life the GC Football program in the late 1980's when enrollment at the southern Illinois college was dropping.  Bowman had come to GC following a stint as the Asst. Head Coach at UTEP.  Before that, Bowman had served as an Asst. Coach at Boston College working with prized QB Doug Flutie.  Following his days at GC, Bowman went on to work at the University of Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills under Wade Phillips.

Former GC head Football Coach Max Bowman recently was named the Asst. Athletic Director at Rutgers University working primarily with the Scarlet Knights football team as its Chief of Staff.

.....Clinic History In the Fall of 2004, Stoecklin talked with Pontiac (IL) Township H.S. coach Joe Gura, and sought his advice on creating a clinc for the Spring and details that went into such a program.  Feeling there was a great need on a regional level for a clinic to help coaches head into their Summer programs, the idea of the I-55/I-57 Clinic began to formalize. Stoecklin's first contact was to Northern Illinois University head coach Rob Judson. Judson immediately became a confidant in the initial planning stages of the clinic, even during the Huskies season.  Judson's guidance led to the formal creation of the Clinic and its title.  He also became the first presenter to commit to the clinic and he was an NCAA DI coach with state-wide recognition..

Huskie head coach Rob Judson

Next came contact with former Eureka (IL) College head coach Dave Darnall.  Stoecklin had served as a camp coach a number of years for Darnall in the mid-90's, and knew that Darnall had many ties to area coaches in the state.  Darnall also agreed to present and in Darnall, had a passionate presenter of the game that was one of few coaches in America to have won a National Championship..

Cashing in another chip.....Stoecklin's hometown of Greenville (IL) had also at one time been the home of Pleasant Plains (IL) H.S. head coach Cliff Cameron.  Stoecklin got to know Cameron through his coaching at a local school, and while Stoecklin was serving as a broadcaster.  Since arriving in Pleasant Plains, Cameron has won 2 IHSA Class A titles and, at the time, was preparing for another season in which the Cardinals would appear in the IHSA Sweet 16.  With the appearance of Cameron, the clinic now had a successful high school coach with NIKE Clinic experience, and who was widely recognized in Class A basketball throughout central Illinois.

Darnall won the 1994 NAIA National Championship

Riding then what would be a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA DIII tournament with a sophomore laden team, Illinois Wesleyan's Scott Trost commited to presenting at the clinic.  Trost's Titans would win their 2nd straight CCIW title for the Bloomington, IL, based school, and would give the clinic another high profile NCAA coach with ties to the midwest.

Cameron's Cardinals won a 2000 & 2002 State Title in Illinois

The final piece of the 2004 clinic puzzle turned out to be the biggest catch.  University of Illinois head coach Bruce Weber announced in April 2004, his intention to appear at the clinic.  Weber would appear the day after appearing at the NIKE Clinic in Connecticut in an attempt to get the I-55/I-57 Clinic off the ground and running.

Trost has won 3 straight CCIW titles with the Titans

Weber took the 2005 Illini to the NCAA Championship game!!