Now in his sixth season, Luke Sabers continues his stellar work with the Northern Illinois pitching staff. During his tenure, Sabers has coached three Freshman All-Americans, three All-Mid-American Conference selections, and ten MAC Pitchers of the Week. Six of his pitchers signed professional contracts, including five with Major League teams.
In 2005, freshman Brian Smith twice earned MAC Pitcher of the Week honors under Sabers[apos] tuteledge. Smith finished the season leading the team with six victories, a 2.85 ERA, and one shutout. Matt German set a new NIU and MAC record with 33 appearances and freshman hurler Adam Holdenrid posted a 3.71 ERA in 11 starts and 70.1 innings.
Over the past three years, Sabers has coached a Freshman All-American and three All-MAC selections. In addition, he has mentored the school[apos]s second-ranked career strikeout leader (204), the best single-season performance (96), the single-season inning leader (116.1), and the season (nine) and career (20) victory leader. Two pitchers have been drafted by Major League Baseball and several others inked free-agent professional contracts under Sabers.
Sabers has helped lead Northern Illinois[apos] renaissance on the diamond after an outstanding collegiate career at Northern Iowa University. In his five campaigns with the Huskies, Sabers made significant contributions to the program through his development of young talent. In 2004, NIU had arguably one of better starting staffs in the nation led by seniors Joe Piekarz and Zach Minor, who both earned All-MAC recognition. Piekarz was NIU[apos]s first First-Team All-MAC selection since 1980 after a historic season that saw him break school season records for strikeouts (96) and innings-pitched (116.1) while tying the school record with nine victories. Piekarz[apos]s conference statistics were even more impressive, going 6-2 with a 2.66 ERA (including the league tournament) while leading the MAC with four complete game victories and recording a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 3-to-1.
Minor finished his NIU career in second place on the career strikeouts list (204) and was a Second Team All-MAC choice after posting a 7-4 mark with a 3.61 ERA, including a win at national power Texas Tech. The school[apos]s career wins leader with 20, Minor was drafted in the 25th round by the Baltimore Orioles and joined fellow pitcher Trevor Wohlgemuth as an MLB signee on Draft Day. One of the MAC[apos]s top relievers, Wohlgemuth sparkled in his one season under Sabers, racking up seven saves in 25 appearances with a 1.57 ERA and was drafted by San Francisco in the 26th round.
While Piekarz, Minor and Wohlgemuth received the honors, perhaps Sabers[apos] best work was done with current senior Nick Hall. The team[apos]s workhorse in 2005 with 88.2 innings in 13 starts and two complete games, Hall carried over his late season success from 2004 when he sported a 3.52 ERA down the stretch with 20 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work. In summer league play, Hall earned All-Northwoods League recognition and led the Alexandria Beetles with a 5-1 record and 2.17 ERA.
In 2003, Mark Badgley earned Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball after setting NIU season and career records with 14 saves, a total that ranked fourth nationally. Minor, Mark Skrukrud and Joe Piekarz each posted 6-4 records on the year as the team had a school-best 34 victories. The Huskies finished with a 5.05 ERA as a team, paced by Minor[apos]s 3.64 and Skrukrud[apos]s 4.01 marks. In racking up a team high 77 strikeouts, Skrukrud walked just 10 batters to earn All-MAC honors.
Along with his duties on the field, Sabers also assists in recruiting and fundraising efforts.
Prior to Ed Mathey[apos]s tenure, Sabers guided two pitchers who earned Freshman All-American honors by Collegiate Baseball, Matt Schroeder in 2002 and Minor in 2001, and had a pair of 2002 graduates, Brad Gavelek (San Francisco) and Dan Badgley (Detroit), sign professional contracts.
Sabers spent the past four summers coaching for the Quincy Gems of the Central Illinois Collegiate League, including the last three as head coach, after serving as pitching coach in 2002. Sabers guided the team to the 2005 CICL Championship after a second consecutive West Divison crown.
As a player, Sabers made an immediate impact on the Northern Iowa program, leading the team with four saves as a sophomore after transferring from North Iowa Area Community College where he was a two-sport standout in baseball and basketball. As a senior captain, Sabers led UNI in victories and finished fourth on the Panthers[apos] career saves list.
The 29-year-old native of Jesup, IA, received his bachelor of arts degree in general studies from Northern Iowa in May, 2000. Sabers married the former Beth Mooney on October 16, 2004.
THE SABERS FILE
Coaching:
2000-present - Assistant Coach, Northern Illinois
2003-2005 - Head Coach, Quincy Gems (Summer)
2002 - Assistant Coach, Quincy Gems (Summer)
Education:
B.A., General Studies.
University of Northern Iowa, 2000.
