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05/16/2012
Illini Host Gophers in Final Big Ten Series
Illinois Makes Final Push for Big Ten Tournament
05/10/2012
Illini Travel to Penn State for Weekend Series
Illinois Looks to Make Strides in Big Ten Race
02/15/2012
Illini Open 2012 at Big Ten/Big East Challenge
Illinois to Face Notre Dame, Louisville, St. John's
02/08/2012
Illini Season Preview Part 1: Pitchers
Returning Ace Kevin Johnson Leads Talented, Deep Staff
11/09/2011
Illini Sign 8 to National Letters of Intent
5 Pitchers, 3 Position Players Make Up 2012 Signing Class
Drew Dickinson was named an assistant coach and pitching coach on Aug. 3, 2011, after serving two stints as a volunteer assistant coach in 2009 and 2011. He served as the pitching coach for the Schaumburg Flyers of the independent Northern League in 2010. Dickinson was Illinois' volunteer assistant coach in 2009 while he finished his degree after a seven-year professional playing career.
Dickinson returned to Illinois as a volunteer assistant in 2011 after spending a year with Schaumburg and helped guide the Illini staff to its lowest ERA since 2005, besting the 2009 team's mark. He assisted the development of a staff that helped lift Illinois to Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships for the first time in school history and an appearance in the NCAA Fullerton Regional championship game.
Following his professional career, Dickinson served as Illinois' volunteer assistant coach in 2009, helping guide the Illini pitching staff to its lowest ERA since 2005. He then served as pitching coach for the Northern League's Schaumburg Flyers in 2010, leading them to the third-best ERA in the league after finishing last the three previous years.
A 2009 graduate of Illinois, Dickinson holds a B.S. in communication. He was selected in the 28th round by the Oakland Athletics in the 2002 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Dickinson is one of the best pitchers in Illinois history, earning third-team All-American honors by Collegiate Baseball and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors in 2001, and third-team Collegiate Baseball All-American laurels once again in 2002. He shares the records for career wins and wins in a Big Ten season, and holds the record for innings pitched in a Big Ten season.
In addition, he ranks third in career innings pitched and career strikeouts, and his 53 strikeouts in Big Ten play in both 2001 and 2002 are tied for the school record. Dickinson also holds the record for innings pitched in a Big Ten season with 63 in 2002, and his 148 Big Ten innings rank second in school history. He pitched 115 1/3 innings in 2001 - third-most in school history - and 114 2/3 in 2002 - fourth-most in school history.
A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Dickinson graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009. He was and a 28th-round draft pick by the Oakland A's in 2002 and reached the double-A level with the A's. He was an all-star in the Midwest League in 2003 and was named a Top 25 Prospect in the A's system in 2004.
The Drew Dickinson File
Born: Dec. 13, 1979
Hometown: Freeport, Ill.
Hired: Aug. 3, 2011
Education
2009 B.S. in communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Coaching Experience
2012- Assistant coach, University of Illinois
2011 Volunteer assistant coach, University of Illinois
2010 Pitching coach, Schaumburg Flyers
2009 Volunteer assistant coach, University of Illinois
Playing Experience
2008 Gary SouthShore Railcats, Northern League
2007 Schaumburg Flyers, Northern League
2005 Midland RockHounds, Texas League (AA)
2005 Stockton Ports, California League (advanced-A)
2004 Midland RockHounds, Texas League (AA)
2003 Kane County Cougars, Midwest League (low-A)
2002 Visalia Oaks, California League (advanced-A)
2002 Vancouver Canadians, Northwest League (short-season A)
