Calling it the greatest honor someone could receive, Illinois State head baseball coach Jim Brownlee will be inducted into the University of Evansville Athletics Hall of Fame on February 5, 2005 in Evansville, Ind. Brownlee, who is entering his third season as head coach at Illinois State, coached Evansville baseball for 23 years.
The only thing that could come close to this honor would be winning a national title, said Brownlee. In a way it makes me feel old, but its really a result of great assistant coaches and good players over the years. Im very honored.
Brownlee was Evansvilles head baseball coach from 1980 through 2002, compiling a 23-year record of 701-609-5. The 701 wins are the most compiled by any UE coach in any sport. Brownlees 1988 and 2000 teams reached the NCAA Tournament. Four of his UE teams won 40 games or more, and he was honored seven times as a league coach of the year. Thirty-two of his Evansville players went on to play professional baseball, including Andy Benes, the No. 1 pick in the 1988 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Ten have been chosen as Academic All-Americans, seven were All-Americans, and six are already members of the UE Hall of Fame. Washington Nationals infielder Jamey Carroll, who played for Brownlee in the mid-90s, also will be inducted into the UE Hall of Fame, becoming the seventh former Brownlee player to receive the honor.
Evansville will always be a special place to me, said Brownlee. I was there for 23 years, I raised my family there and I made some of the best friends Ill ever have in that town. I still pull for them to win all the time, except for when they play Illinois State.
In addition to the 701 wins, Brownlee left his mark on Evansville by helping build a new baseball stadium for the Purple Aces. Charles H. Braun Stadium is now entering its third year and is considered by Brownlee to be one of his biggest accomplishments.
I still get chills every time I walk in that place, said Brownlee. I was so proud to see that facility get completed and I will always be very thankful towards the Brauns and UE for having the vision and dedication to see such a large product all the way through.
Brownlee received both his bachelors and masters degrees from Illinois State, and played baseball at ISU under legendary coach Duffy Bass. Brownlee was a third baseman on the 1969 College Division National Championship team at Illinois State.
After his 23 years at Evansville, he returned to his alma mater in 2002 to become the head coach of the Redbirds.
Brownlee is a member of the Illinois State Athletics Hall of Fame, being inducted as part of the 1969 team, and is also a member of Antioch High Schools Hall of Fame. Evansville previously honored Brownlee by retiring his jersey number 6 from the Purple Aces baseball team.
