By FRED KRONER
fred@sjodaily.com
During Randy Wolken’s 39-year softball coaching tenure at St. Joseph-Ogden, the Spartans were known for aggressive base running and as fundamentally strong defensive teams.
Next spring, when Larry Sparks succeeds the Hall of Fame coach who amassed 1,043 career wins, he hopes to field a team known for aggressive base running and as fundamentally strong defensively.
“We’re not looking to change the vehicle,” Sparks said. “Just a different driver, but the same game plan.”
His hiring was officially approved by the SJ-O Board of Education on Monday.
A graduate of Unity High School, Sparks is no stranger to the Spartans’ sports scene.
He first surfaced in 2000 as an assistant coach in softball for Wolken.
“He seemed interested and tried to make everyone better,” Wolken said.
For seven of the past nine years, Sparks served as the SJ-O middle school softball coach. His most recent team won a regional title and ended its season last week with a 16-3 record.
He’ll be no stranger to many of the high school softball players.
“I’ve coached most of them at some point, and we get along well,” Sparks said.
Wolken believes that experience will be advantageous.
“He’ll know strengths, what they need to work on and how to deal with them,” the former coach said.
Three varsity Spartans — Ashtyn Cromwell, Bailey Dowling and Savannah Smith — volunteered their time this fall to work with the middle school program.
Sparks has coached at the high school level the past two springs, serving as an assistant at Westville in 2016 and at Heritage in 2017.
The Heritage head coach is SJ-O graduate Greg Immke.
Before submitting an application for the SJ-O coaching vacancy, Sparks checked with Immke to gauge his interest.
Immke said the timing was not right and he would not leave Heritage a year after his hiring.
“I want to give it more years to get it back on track,” Immke said. “It’s the culture we’re trying to change.”
Immke is confident in Sparks’ ability to carry on the SJ-O tradition.
“He has good rapport with the girls and will do a fantastic job,” Immke said.
Sparks believes the transition is less daunting than some might expect.
“It would be more of a challenge if I were going to completely revamp everything,” he said. “SJ-O athletes are very committed to their craft and we want to continue on the same path.”
Sparks wasn’t expecting to find himself in this position.
“I think people thought Randy would coach forever,” he said. “Randy built that program from the ground up (starting softball in 1980) and established a culture.
“Opportunity is everything. The opportunity came along and I’m excited to have that opportunity.”
His first SJ-O team will include all staters Dowling (a shortstop who is an Alabama commit) and Hannah Dukeman (catcher) as well as a 20-game pitching winner in Cromwell.
“The cupboard is not bare,” Sparks said.
SJ-O athletic director Justin Franzen said the search committee “talked to several people about the opening.”
Sparks stood out.
“He was very passionate about SJ-O softball and wants to continue on with the success we’ve had,” Franzen said. “Larry has had a lot of success and is great with kids.”
SJ-O superintendent Brian Brooks knows Sparks beyond his work in softball.
“He was a big part of our Saturday youth basketball program,” Brooks said. “When I got here (2003), we had nothing (for elementary students through sixth grade) and I tried to get it off the ground.
“He was willing to step in and run it. He has been a huge help to our program.”
Brooks also appreciated how Sparks jumped at the chance to serve as the softball head coach at a school with 35 regional championships in the sport in the past 39 years.
“I have a lot of respect that he applied pretty early,” Brooks said. “He wasn’t afraid to accept that challenge.
“It’s great that he is wanting to take that on.”
Brooks, who was involved with the final round of interviews, likes what he heard from Sparks.
“He has a vision for the program, not just the high school, and to continue to develop an already strong program, Brooks said.
Sparks’ day job is as a crew leader in the electric department at Ameren Illinois. He is based in Urbana.
Weather permitting, Sparks’ debut as the Spartans coach will occur in 174 days with a March 18 road trip to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.
The home season is scheduled to start on March 21 against Normal West.
“I’m ready to get going,” Sparks said.
