Jon Rinderer is entering his third season as the head coach of the McKendree University bass fishing team. Rinderer came to McKendree after building the Highland High School bass fishing team into one of the most successful squads in the state since the Illinois High School Association began sponsoring the activity in 2008-09.
Since founding the Highland program in 2009, Rinderer has helped mold the Bulldogs’ program into a model of consistency in the state of Illinois. In each of his seven years at the helm, Rinderer guided Highland to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state tournament, which is held at Carlyle Lake. In the spring of 2012, Highland captured it’s first state championship. In 2011, the Bulldogs had two boats that placed third and fourth, respectively, in the IHSA state event, and in 2014 and 2015, the Bulldogs again placed third, and second respectively at the IHSA event. In each of the past six years, Highland has had at least one boat earn a sectional title on its way to state competition.
“I’ve watched the sport boom at the high-school level and work its way into the college ranks,” said Rinderer. “A lot of college teams are club-organized and student-run groups. McKendree has started a unique program due to the kind of support that the University has given to this sport. We are able to offer a lot of things that other programs just do not offer. It is exciting for the students and exciting for me from a recruiting aspect. The support from the University has helped us build a very competitive program.”
An active member of the fishing community, Rinderer is a long-time competitor in several bass fishing circuits. Rinderer has registered numerous first-place finishes over the years on tour, including events with the Bass World Sports Circuit, the USA Bassin’ Circuit, the Big Bass Trail Circuit, the Premier Tournament Circuit and the Gene Cailey’s Winter Circuit.
“I am really excited about McKendree’s program,” said Rinderer. “The sport of bass fishing has exploded onto the scene over the last several years, and a lot of schools have recognized that growth. McKendree has definitely seen that potential and has created a program that is second to none. It’s program operates with the concept that all the fishermen will be able to participate in tournament situations. McK fishes in all three major collegiate circuits, the Cabela’s BoatUS Collegiate Circuit, Bassmaster Carhartt Collegiate Circuit, and the FLW Collegiate Circuit. The school also hosts invitational tournaments where schools from all over come to fish our home lake at Carlyle.”
During McK’s first two seasons, Rinderer’s anglers have had 30 top ten finishes. The squad had three teams qualified for two separate national championships, (FLW and Bassmaster Carhartt). They placed 23rd at each of these events. The team also took three boats both years to the Cabela’s Boat US National Championship tourney.
In 2014, the team’s inaugural year, they finished 18th nationwide in the Cabela’s BoatUS coveted Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) School of the Year race. During the 2015 season, the team finished 8th in nation with over 310 teams competing.
"My goal for the future is to continue to recruit quality anglers that have a true passion for competitive bass fishing along with the highest moral character," said RInderer. "Good work ethic and attention to detail are a must in order to build a program of consistency that is always in contention for a national championship."
