Baseball Head Coach

Spiro Lempesis
Now in his eighth season as the Cougars' head coach, Spiro Lempesis has infused the baseball program with a new attitude, approach and intentions of making Concordia one of the top Division III programs in the country.

As a student, Lempesis played both hockey and baseball at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota where he earned a degree in secondary education. Upon returning to the Chicago area, he was "discovered" by Concordia in the university's own backyard. Lempesis was working as a coordinator for a summer collegiate baseball program for the Norridge Park District, a place where some of the local Cougar players could be found during the summer months. When the baseball coach's position at Concordia opened up, those players encouraged Lempesis to inquire about the job and the rest, as they say, is history.

Lempesis' trademark is a very aggressive approach to the game. "Speed never slumps" and "applying pressure makes things happen" are creeds by which the Cougar baseball program lives. Lempesis states, "I am not a 'numbers' kind of coach. I want players who hate to lose. We look for players that have the commitment and discipline to do whatever it takes to put themselves above their competition."

In 2001, Lempesis guided the Cougars to 23 wins, the second-highest ever for Concordia baseball. He was honored that year with Coach of the Year accolades by the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference and by Concordia's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Lempesis added another 20-win season in 2003, 23 wins in 2004, and 20 in 2005 when they finished second to Aurora University in the conference tournament. In 2006, the Cougars compiled 23 wins, the final three coming in the NIIC tournament (including one over regular-season champion Aurora) where the team hoisted the trophy in the league's final season of competition. In addition to seeing his teams enjoy success, Lempesis has produced an NIIC Player of the Year in starting pitcher Jim Paduch and seen him drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft.

Lempesis and wife Tonya reside in Montgomery with their 2 1/2 year old daughter, Amber Mae.

Contact Information:
E-Mail - Spiro.Lempesis@CUChicago.edu
708-209-3125 (Office)
708-209-3154 (Fax)