By Mike Clark
Rich Tomoleoni’s initial plan was to become an architect.
“I did get a job after high school,” he said. “But I found out that it’s different, sitting in a 40-minute class doing drawings (versus) 12 hours a day sitting at a desk.”
So Tomoleoni went back to talk to a former coach, who advised him to become a teacher and coach.
Generations of Clemente players are glad he did.
On Aug. 31, a sunny Saturday morning, Clemente honored the winningest baseball coach in Public League history by renaming its baseball facility in his honor.
It was a surprise to Tomoleoni, who figured he was on hand solely to mingle with former players at Clemente’s all-class reunion. Linda, his wife, was among those sworn to secrecy by event organizers.
“I’m humbled by all of this and speechless, actually,” Tomoleoni said after the “Tomoleoni Field” banner was unfurled. “But I appreciate all you guys for being here, everybody. My family and all the rest of my family out there. We’re all family at Clemente.”
Tomoleoni, 83, graduated from Steinmetz in 1959 before moving on to Northern Illinois University, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He came back home to teach and coach, first at Tuley and then at its successor school, Clemente.
In a 37-year career, he won 716 games, 15 conference championships and eight Public League titles: 1974, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’88, ’89, ’95 and ’97. The Wildcats earned a pair of state trophies, taking fourth in Class AA in 1989 and ’95. He served as a scout for the Cincinnati Reds, was the first Public Leaguer named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was a finalist for national coach of the year in 1990.
He coached one future major leaguer in Victor Diaz, who played for the New York Mets and Texas Rangers between 2004 and ’07.
But there is more to Tomoleoni than all the trophies and accolades.
“Coach Tomoleoni meant everything to the community,” said Marco Acevedo, a former Clemente player and 1987 graduate. “He was a role model. When there (were) no role models, he was a role model. There (were) a lot of families with a single parent and he took up the slack, both on the field and off the field.
“He instilled values which some of the student-athletes did not have at home.”
That included setting expectations both on the field and in the classroom.
“He said, ‘This is the way you do it,'” Acevedo said. “‘This is the way you compose yourself as a young man. And if you can’t do that, you can’t play for me and you can’t be here at the school.'”
Tomoleoni had at least one chance to move on from Clemente. He said when longtime Barrington coach Kirby Smith retired in 1998, Barrington officials reached out about the job.
“I gave it a thought for a few minutes,” Tomoleoni said. “But I said, ‘No, this is home here. I belong here.’
“And so I stayed, of course, and I don’t regret it.”
Neither does Linda, who was like another mom for generations of Clemente players.
“They’ve been there all along for him as well as he’s been there for them,” she said. “You learn to love them as well. They were at our house, just like they were family. … When we traveled (to games), we brought food. … All the parents participated too. It was just one big family.”
That included the Wildkittens, a group of female Clemente students whom Tomoleoni taught about baseball so they could keep stats and help scout opponents.
Tomoleoni was admittedly not the easiest guy to play for.
“I was not a very nice coach,” he said. “And you know, they could take it. They loved, just loved the game so much. Every one of these guys is Javy Baez, that kind of attitude.”
Photos by Jim Vincent/OSA
