For 20 years under head coach Robin Renner, Neuqua Valley baseball has been as recognizable as any program in the state.
James Thornton intends to keep that way.
Thornton, who’s his fourth season as the school’s freshman coach, was named Monday by athletic director Branden Adkins to succeed Renner.
Thornton understands the positive situation he faces with the Wildcats.
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“This is a program that has been built from the ground up,” Thornton said. “Very successful program, a high-character, high-integrity program, so just trying to maintain that consistency.
“I’ve done the rebuild at previous locations, but just not like this — not when you can go to the cupboard and actually see groceries in the cabinet. That’s a nice feeling.”
Thornton has varsity head coaching experience at Corliss, Hales and Seton. But it’s the work he has put in since coming to Neuqua that stood out.
This year’s senior class — which already is 62-5-1 in two varsity seasons — was Thornton’s first group of freshmen.
The freshman A and B teams went a combined 54-2 in 2015 before those players finished 33-1 as sophomores in 2016.
Senior third baseman Noah Herdman fondly remembers playing for Thornton.
“He is just a guy who loves baseball, loves the game,” Herdman said. “He’s one of the most motivational guys I’ve ever met. He really gets into the game.
“I love his enthusiasm toward the game and his coaching ability.”
Renner won his 500th career game on May 9. Under his guidance, the program has won 11 regional titles and five sectionals.
The highlight came in 2007, when the Wildcats won the Class AA state title.
As he prepares to hand the keys over, Renner has no worries about where the program is headed.
“(Thornton) will do an amazing job and take the program to a higher level,” Renner said.
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.