Longtime Bulldogs Coach Honored with Nation’s Highest Collegiate Baseball Coaching Distinction

South Holland, IL – South Suburban College (SSC) is proud to announce that longtime Head Baseball Coach Steve Ruzich has been inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame— the highest honor bestowed by the ABCA. This distinguished recognition places Ruzich among the most elite coaches in collegiate baseball history.

Coach Ruzich has been a fixture at SSC for four decades, dedicating his life to building one of the most successful programs in NJCAA baseball history. With a remarkable career record of 1,385-817 (.629) through the 2025 season, he ranks fifth all-time in wins among NJCAA coaches.

Under his leadership, the SSC Bulldogs have captured 15 regional championships, made two NJCAA World Series appearances, and secured nine regional runner-up finishes. The program’s most impressive campaign came in 2005 with a school-record 51 wins and a staggering .823 winning percentage.

Ruzich’s accolades include 14 NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year honors, and he has mentored countless student-athletes, including six who advanced to Major League Baseball—most notably Tony Cingrani and Rob Mackowiak.

In addition to his ABCA Hall of Fame induction, Ruzich was previously inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014 and was honored with the inaugural NJCAA Coaches Legacy Award in June 2025, recognizing the all-time winningest coaches in NJCAA history.

“Coach Ruzich’s impact on South Suburban College, on the lives of his student-athletes, and on the game of baseball is immeasurable,” said SSC President Dr. Lynette Stokes. “His legacy extends well beyond the field, and we are thrilled to see him receive the national recognition he so deeply deserves.”

Coach Ruzich’s ABCA Hall of Fame induction celebrates not only his winning record but his enduring commitment to the game and to developing generations of student-athletes on and off the field.

For more information about South Suburban College Athletics, please visit www.ssc.edu.

PHOTO: South Suburban College’s Head Baseball Coach Steve Ruzich