Northern Illinois University Men's Baseball

Mike Kunigonis has brought a grinders mentality and work ethic to the NIU baseball program in five seasons as head coach. In 2019, Kunigonis led NIU to the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament where the Huskies reached the semifinals and won two games for the first time since 2008. NIU was 20-36 on the season and compiled a 14-12 MAC record, tied for the third-most conference wins in program history. On May 11, Kunigonis won his 100th career game as the Huskies shutout Toledo 4-0. The Huskies went 20-36 in 2018, highlighted by a 5-3 win at Notre Dame on March 20 for the program's first win over the Fighting Irish since 1995. In 2017, Kunigonis led NIU to a 17-38 overall record and a 11-13 record in the Mid-American Conference. NIU hit for a combined .248 average with a .327 slugging percentage and got on base at a .358 clip. The Huskies averaged eight hits and 4.45 runs per game. Kunigonis laid the Huskieball foundation for his program right away, during his first season in 2015, as the Huskies swept its opening weekend with a pair of wins over South Dakota State and another over Niagara. NIU would go on to finish the season 22-33, recording a 10-17 mark in Mid-American Conference play. The team improved its batting average by 32 points in Kunigonis first season and scored 1.24 more runs per game. The Huskies swept their midweek series with UIC, defeating the in-state foe home and away. NIU won 24 games in 2016, going 14-10 in the MAC West to finish second behind Ball State. The Huskies won seven straight games at the end of April into May that season, highlighted by a sweep of Bowling Green in which NIU outscored the Falcons 28-4 with back-to-back shutouts to close the series. Kunigonis, a veteran Division I coach who spent seven years on the staff at Virginia Tech, was named head coach of the Northern Illinois University baseball program on January 5, 2015. In seven years at Virginia Tech, Kunigonis worked his way up from volunteer assistant coach (2008-10), to assistant coach (2010-13) before being named associate head coach and recruiting coordinator his final two seasons ago. The Hokies twice advanced to the NCAA Regionals during his time in Blacksburg, earning a No. 1 seed and regional host bid in 2013 when they finished as Atlantic Coast Conference runners-up. He served as Virginia Techs hitting coach from 2010-15, and the Hokies ranked among the countrys top offenses in each of those seasons. Tech had the top offense in the ACC in 2014 and ranked in the top 25 nationally in five offensive categories in 2013. The 2011 Virginia Tech team ranked in the top 10 nationally in multiple categories as well. Over his six seasons, the Hokies had 20 players chosen in the MLB draft, with at least two players drafted each year. In 2010, eight Virginia Tech players were drafted, while six Hokies were selected in the 2013 draft. During Kunigonis time with the Hokies, nine position players were chosen in the draft. Prior to Virginia Tech, Kunigonis spent one season on the staff at Radford University in Virginia, where he coached the outfielders, worked with the hitters and directed the camps. Kunigonis experience includes five seasons at two institutions in western New York. He was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Canisius College in Buffalo during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 seasons, where he also coached the hitters, catchers and outfielders and was also on the staff at Niagara University in a similar capacity for two seasons. Both teams advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament during Kunigonis time in their dugouts. As a player, Kunigonis played four seasons at American International College. A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Kunigonis earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice and sociology from AIC in 2001, and completed his masters degree in sports administration at Canisius in 2006. Kunigonis is married to the former Amy Miller and the couple has one daughter, Mary Alice. He is the Huskies fifth head baseball coach since the program was resurrected in 1991 and the 14th since the teams first season in 1900. THE MIKE KUNIGONIS FILE: Education: American International College, 2001, BS criminal justice and sociology; Canisius, 2006, MS, sports administration Hometown: Worcester, Mass. Wife: Amy Children: Mary Alice PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: 2013-14 Virginia Tech, Associate Head Coach 2010-13 Virginia Tech, Assistant Coach 2008-10 Virginia Tech, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2007-08 Radford, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2004-07 Canisius, Assistant Coach 2002-04 Niagara, Assistant Coach NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE 2010 Columbia Regional 2013 Blacksburg Regional  

Stewart, a native of Normal, Ill., will serve as the Huskies hitting coach in his first season with NIU. "I am lucky to have Coach Stewart on board. He is an Illinois native with recruiting ties to Chicagoland and the Midwest. His work ethic, character and communication skills will make him an instant hit with our players, alumni and recruits," said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis at the hiring. Stewart began his coaching career with the Illini after getting drafted by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft following a successful baseball career at UAB. A former Georgia transfer, Stewart wrapped up his three-year stint at UAB with 49 career home runs, which is tied for the most in program history. The Normal, Ill., native hit 21 of those homers as a senior in 2010 on his way to first-team All-Conference USA honors. A career .288 hitter, Stewart started 165 games over his three years at UAB and spent the past two seasons as the Blazers' everyday first baseman. His 167 career RBI rank fourth at UAB, while his 127 walks rank second in school annals. Stewart began his collegiate baseball career at Georgia in 2007 and played one year before transferring to UAB. He graduated from UAB with a communications degree in 2013 and began assisting the Illini this fall. Stewart has family ties to Illinois, with his brother, Jake, earning varsity letters with Illini baseball in 2005-06 and his father, Jeff, playing football for Illinois. Education: UAB (2013); B.S. Communications Hometown: Normal, Ill. 2014 Illinois, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2011 Kingsport Mets (Appalachian, Rookie) 2011 Brooklyn Cyclones (New York-Penn, A-) 2010 Kingsport Mets (Appalachian, Rookie)