Jim Boehne begins his 11th season as the head baseball coach at McKendree University in 2008. In his first decade at McKendree, Boehne has built the Bearcat program into one of the most successful and well-respected around the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
On the field, the numbers certainly are impressive. In the last 10 seasons, Boehne has guided McKendree to 388 victories, seven consecutive American Midwest Conference Tournament championships and five AMC regular-season crowns. In addition, Boehne has led the Bearcats into regional competition eight of the last nine seasons.
In 2007, McKendree posted its 10th consecutive winning season with Boehne at the helm. The Bearcats have also reached the double-digit mark in AMC victories in each of Boehne’s 10 seasons at McKendree.
Since Boehne's first season at McKendree in 1998, the Bearcats have produced four NAIA All-America players. Brian Dinkelman, who is the school's only three-time NAIA All-America selection, became the first Bearcat to receive NAIA Baseball Player of the Year honors when he won the award in 2006. Lance Marcum (2005-06) and Justin Knolhoff (2000-01) join Dinkelman as the only two-time first-team NAIA All-Americans in Bearcat history.
At the conference level, McKendree has had four AMC Player of the Year honorees, three AMC Pitcher of the Year recipients and a pair of AMC Newcomer of the Year award winners. In addition, the Bearcats have produced six AMC Freshman of the Year honorees since 1998. In all, 35 different players have earned first-team All-Conference accolades under Boehne's guidance.
In the classroom, the McKendree baseball program has performed equally as well. Over the last nine years, there have been 17 players who have earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete status. Also, a total of 105 Bearcat baseball players have been recognized as Academic All-Conference honorees. And for the fifth consecutive year, McKendree was honored as an NAIA Scholar-Team, and is the only institution to win the award in every season since it was introduced in 2003.
Prior to his arrival in Lebanon, 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.
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 throughout the month of December.
Boehne and his wife, Cheryl, reside in Carlyle with their children, Kayla and Tyson.
