Jim Boehne was hired as the McKendree University baseball coach back in the summer of 1997. Since that time, Boehne has helped develop the Bearcat program into one of the most successful squads in the Midwest while leading the program's transition into NCAA Division II and Great Lakes Valley Conference membership.
Entering the 2016 season, Boehne has guided McKendree to 574 victories, and is the program’s all-time leader in wins. During McKendree’s time as members of the American Midwest Conference, Boehne helped guide the Bearcats to eight American Midwest Conference Tournament championships (2000-06, 2009) and five AMC regular-season crowns. He also led McKendree to its lone NAIA World Series Opening Round appearance back in 2009.
Since joining the GLVC, McKendree players have been able to distinguish themselves among the best talent in the league. Steven Todoschuk became the first Bearcat to earn first-team All-GLVC honors with his stellar play during the 2014 season. Todoschuk hit .401 on the year with 71 hits, 14 doubles, eight home runs and 39 runs battle in. He also became the first McKendree player to earn All-Midwest Region accolades during the Division II era for the Bearcats that same season.
First baseman Rob Beatty and outfielder Kyle Rutledge became the first McKendree players to collect All-GLVC honors with their second-team selections in 2013. Outfielder Brad Groleau is the Bearcats' most recent All-GLVC honoree, picking up second-team mention in 2015.
Boehne reached a career milestone in 2011 as he earned his 500th career victory. In the last of a four-game series at Williams Baptist College on April 2, the Bearcats rallied for a 7-4 victory to give Boehne his milestone win. Another highlight of Boehne’s coaching tenure at McKendree came in 2009. That season, the Bearcats captured their first AMC Tournament championship since 2006 and earned a bid to the NAIA World Series Opening Round. McKendree used a lot of offensive firepower to roll through the elimination bracket of the AMC Tournament, scoring 75 runs to win its last four games of the post-season event.
From Boehne’s first season at McKendree in 1998 through 2011, the Bearcats produced four NAIA All-America players. Brian Dinkelman, the school’s only three-time NAIA All-America selection, received NAIA Baseball Player of the Year honors in 2006. Lance Marcum (2005-06) and Justin Knolhoff (2000-01) join Dinkelman as the only two-time first-team NAIA All-Americans in McKendree baseball history.
While members of the AMC, McKendree had five Player of the Year honorees, four Pitcher of the Year recipients and a trio of Newcomer of the Year award winners. In addition, the Bearcats produced six Freshman of the Year honorees. In all, 43 different players earned first-team All-AMC accolades under Boehne’s guidance.
In the classroom, the McKendree baseball program has performed equally as well. Since joining the GLVC for the 2013 season, the McKendree baseball program has placed at least 16 players on the league's Academic All-Conference squad. That number includes a high of 22 players who earned the award in 2014. In both 2014 and 2015, the Bearcat baseball team has been recognized with Team Academic All-GLVC accolades. That award is given to programs with a season cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or higher.
Over a 12-year span 35 players earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete status. McKendree had the most NAIA Scholar-Athlete nominees of NAIA institution in both 2010 and 2011. A total of 152 Bearcat baseball players were recognized as Academic All-Conference honorees. McKendree was honored as an NAIA Scholar-Team for a period of nine consecutive years from 2003 through 2011, and was the only NAIA baseball program to receive the award in each year during that span.
Before taking the reigns at McKendree, Boehne spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans. Boehne served as the Privateers’ hitting instructor, outfield coach and recruiting coordinator. He also served as the first-base coach while at New Orleans. During Boehne’s tenure at New Orleans, the Privateers compiled 229 victories.
Boehne began his coaching career at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech University. He was a student assistant coach during the 1987 season before serving as a graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1988-89.
As a student-athlete, Boehne enjoyed success at several different levels. After leading Carlyle High School to a state championship in 1981, Boehne went on to enjoy a successful collegiate career at both Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College) and Louisiana Tech. While at Belleville Area, Boehne helped the Dutchmen to a berth in the 1984 National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.
Boehne transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he was a two-time All-Conference selection for the Bulldogs. Boehne compiled a 15-4 career record at Louisiana Tech, including a 9-2 mark in 1985 when he was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year.
After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox following his junior season, Boehne returned to Louisiana Tech where he earned team Most Valuable Player honors as a senior.
For 20 years, Boehne held the distinction of being the winning pitcher in the longest game in NAIA baseball history. Boehne pitched the final 10 innings in the Bulldogs’ 2-1, 21-inning victory in 1985 against then-NAIA member Southern Arkansas University.
Boehne graduated from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1986. He added a degree in business education from the school in 1988.
In addition to his duties as baseball coach for the Bearcats, Boehne conducts the McKendree Baseball Winter Camps, which are held in December and January.
Boehne and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Carlyle. The Boehnes have one daughter, Kayla, and a son, Tyson, who is a junior infielder for the Bearcats' baseball team.
