New leader at the helm

by Brendan Saak ’18

THE HUNT BEGAN...

in December 2020, when long-time athletic director, Marty Bell, stepped down from his position.

The university conducted a nationwide search for the next candidate to replace him, but QU President, Dr. Brian McGee, did not need to look very far.

On February 5, the university introduced former QU baseball alum and head coach JOSH RABE ’01 as the fifth full-time athletic director of Quincy University in the last 45 years. Rabe has spent the past eleven years as the Hawks’ head baseball coach, where he set new program records for all-time wins and NCAA Tournament appearances. Before becoming QU baseball’s winningest coach, the local product from Mendon, Illinois, was a member of the Hawk baseball program from 1998-2000. While playing for QU, he was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 1998 and the GLVC Player of the Year in 1999, while being named First Team All-Conference all three seasons. He also helped the Hawks to the 2000 GLVC Tournament title. Following his junior season, Rabe was drafted in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins. He reached the major leagues in July of 2006, where he hit .286 and helped the team to an American League Central Division Title. Rabe was named an All-Star at each of his minor league stops and was named the Twins Man of Steel in 2004 for leading the organization's minor league affiliates in stolen bases.

Rabe played professionally for nine seasons before retiring in 2008. He began coaching collegiately at former GLVC-member

Saint Joseph's College, where he served two years as the baseball program's recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. In 2010, Rabe came back home as the eleventh head baseball coach in QU baseball history. In his first season with the Hawks, Rabe led the 2011 squad to the program's second-ever GLVC Championship title, finishing with a 35-20 overall record. During his eleven-year stint as head coach, Rabe coached 62 all-conference players, 27 all-region performers, eight All-Americans, and five Major League Baseball draft picks. He compiled 348 wins to 205 losses for a final winning percentage of .629. His team went to seven NCAA Regionals including, six straight to end his career, the 2017 Division II College World Series, and led the Hawks to three GLVC Championships.

Quincy University and Quincy University Athletics are a great source of pride for me personally and professionally. This place has given me opportunities to grow as a student-athlete and as a professional. I look forward to serving this great institution and community in this new role.

—Josh Rabe

Quincy’s newest athletic director aims to instill a winning mindset and culture amongst all QU-sponsored athletic teams and will continue to build an outstanding and inclusive athletic department.

QU Athletics has a long tradition of excellence in the classroom and sports competition. We will look to continue that tradition and improve upon it.

—Josh Rabe

QU and all other colleges across the country are coming off an academic year unlike any other after completing the 2020-21 fall and spring semesters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the many challenges, many of Quincy University’s athletic teams still found ways to gain success amidst the obstacles and uncertainties.

Six Hawk programs made it to postseason play, four student-athletes earned All-American honors, and 26 earned all-conference recognition by the GLVC this year. Not only did the Hawks show strides on the field, but the cumulative GPA for student-athletes participating in an NCAA sport was 3.20 over the 2020-21 school year. Despite these challenges and obstacles, Rabe will be inheriting an athletic department that is on the rise in many of its 21-sponsored sports, along with its student-athletes showing they can get it done academically as well. Academic strength is something Rabe will continue to build upon next year and into the future.

These are exciting times for Quincy University and Quincy University Athletics. We are a department on the rise. Our teams will continue to strive for excellence, on and off the field. We are going to compete for championships. Our student-athletes are going to make this community proud.

—Josh Rabe

BASEBALL

made it to its sixth straight NCAA Midwest Regional. The team ended the season with an overall record 29-15, (24-10 GLVC) in head coach Josh Rabe's 11th and final season. Rabe ends his coaching career with a 348-205 record.

TRACK AND FIELD

had two All-Americans and a National Champion.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

had its most successful season in over five years, and were seeded fourth in the GLVC Conference Tournament bracket.

MEN'S SOCCER

finished the year overall 10-5-1 and were seeded third in the GLVC Conference Tournament bracket.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

finished the season overall 8-5-3 and were seeded fifth in the GLVC Conference Tournament bracket.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

made it to their first GLVC Tournament since 2011.