Steve Toricelli, LLCC head baseball coach, was interviewed by WICS on becoming the Loggers head baseball coach.
Tisha Miller, enrollment coordinator, LLCC-Taylorville and LLCC-Litchfield, was interviewed July 18 by WTIM about fall classes at LLCC-Taylorville, how to register, the upcoming Ag & Workforce Careers Expo and Arts for ALL.
Congratulations to Steve Torricelli, who was named Loggers head baseball coach.
Originally from Springfield, Torricelli is a 1986 graduate of Springfield High school. He went on to play at Eastern Illinois University in fall 1986 for Coach Tom McDevitt and pitched for two years. After two years on the roster, he switched gears to join the coaching staff as a student assistant coach for Dan Callahan.
Torricelli has head coaching experience ranging from the high school level to four-year university. In 1999, Coach “Tor” became the head coach of Springfield College in Illinois. In 2003 and 2008, he was selected as Conference Coach of the Year for the Midwest Athletic Conference, and in 2007 and 2008, he was voted Regional Coach of the Year for Region 24. In 2012, SCI was converted into Benedictine University at Springfield as a member of the NAIA in the American Midwest Conference. During his time as a head coach, he had more than 100 players earn academic all-conference and coached more than 50 all-conference players. He was fortunate enough to coach 10 prestigious Academic All-Americans and another 17 Academic All-Americans. He had two players earn All-American status and one selected as an MLB draft pick.
The 2024 Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award at LLCC went to Grant Pohlman of Carrollton, with men’s baseball, and Marley Smith of Auburn, with women’s basketball.
The LLCC Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award recognizes annually one LLCC male athlete and one female athlete. The award was established in February 2015 in honor of Mr. Dhabalt, former athletic director, head men’s basketball coach and faculty member, and acknowledges his dedication to education, athletics and students at LLCC.
Congratulations to Tiffany Sunderlin, student success coach, athletics, who gave birth to healthy baby boy on June 11. Both mom and baby are doing well.
LLCC Human Resources is advertising for a director of athletics. Full details on this and all other open positions can be viewed on the HR employment page.
Dr. Jason Dockter, vice president, academic services, recently provided an interview for Community College Daily discussing his past experience in AACC’s Future Leaders Institute.
Coach Ron Riggle, head baseball coach and LLCC athletics director, and Shanda Byer, vice president, student services, were interviewed by WICS and WTAX Radio on Ron Riggle Day, Friday.
Levi Petzoldt, LLCC baseball pitching coach was interviewed by WICS on Sunday.
Today, LLCC will be honoring Coach Ron Riggle for his 34 years of coaching Loggers baseball. Join us at Claude Kracik Field this afternoon for the festivities, including a free hot dog, chips and soda.
2:45 p.m. – Recognition of Coach Riggle
3 p.m. – LLCC Loggers vs. Danville Jaguars
Earlier this year on Feb. 17, Coach Riggle reached his 700th win versus University of Arkansas Rich Mountain with a 7-5 victory. He has been to the NJCAA National Tournament eight times (in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2000 as an assistant coach and in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021 as head coach) and has won the national tournament twice (1994 and 2000). He has been a part of five no-hitters and sent on over 200 players that continued to play baseball after their time at LLCC. During his time as head coach, there have been nine LLCC players who have advanced to play professional baseball.
Plan to attend the Superfans baseball game on Friday, May 3. It’s also Ron Riggle Day. We’ll be honoring Coach Riggle for his 34 years of coaching Loggers baseball.
2:45 p.m. – Recognition of Coach Riggle
3 p.m. – LLCC Loggers vs. Danville Jaguars
Congratualtions to Coach Ron Riggle, LLCC’s athletics director and head baseball coach, who received the 2024 Loyalty Award on April 17 at the NJCAA Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Coach Riggle has served as the athletics 
director at LLCC since 1997 and is in his 34th season coaching Loggers baseball and his 22nd year as head coach.
“Throughout his impressive career as athletics director, Ron has adhered to the principle that our student athletes are first students and then athletes. He fosters an environment in the athletic department that supports students academically and athletically,” said Shanda Byer, vice president of student services at LLCC. “His leadership, along with his compassion and support of students and coaches, is certainly deserving of the NJCAA Loyalty Award.”
Under Riggle’s leadership, LLCC’s student athletes maintained an average GPA of 3.14 in 2023. As a coach, Riggle led the Loggers to two NJCAA Division II national championship titles in 1994 and 2000. He also led the baseball team to the NJCAA Division II World Series in 1993, 1995, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Riggle played at LLCC during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. He then continued his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University where he was a member of the back-to-back Big South Conference Championship teams.
The Loyalty Award is given to an active athletic director in the NJCAA membership that has worked to uphold the ideals of the organization. It recognizes leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
On Ron Riggle Day, May 3, we will be honoring Coach Riggle for his 34 years of coaching Loggers baseball. Ron Riggle Day shirts are still available to order! Orders are due today, April 17. Money is due to Gailyn Draper no later than time of pick-up. You will be notified when your shirt has arrived.