Coach Throneburg is in his third year as Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach at Lake Land College after completing 32 years teaching and coaching at Casey-Westfield Jr.-Sr. High School. Throneburg is no stranger to LLC as he played one year of basketball under Jim Dudley, before leaving to play at SIU-E where he was a captain and a three year starter. After coaching varsity basketball at Casey, Coach Throneburg returned to LLC as an assistant coach for five years when Jim Dudley returned for his second stint as the Laker head coach.
Coach Throneburg is one of the most widely recognized figures in softball. He was the Head Coach at Casey-Westfield for 22 years where his teams compiled an amazing 647-56 record, a winning percentage of 92%, which is a national record for that span of years. The Lady Warriors also captured six state titles, along with three 2nd place finishes, 20 Regional titles, and 15 Sectional championships. They captured 22 conference championships while compiling a conference record of 115-1. Their record at home was an impressive 351-13, with the pitchers compiling an ERA of 0.81 over those 22 years. Coach Throneburg had 68 players sign softball scholarships in 22 years. In Coach Throneburg’s two years at Lake Land College, he has guided the Lakers softball team to an overall record of 76-25, and a Great Rivers Athletic Conference record of 54-9, with one Regional 24 championship and one regular season championship. In 2006, the Laker softball team became the first softball team in school history to advance to the Division One National Tournament in Plant City, Florida.
Coach Throneburg is one of the most honored softball coaches in the history of the sport in Illinois. He has twice been named National High School Softball Coach of the Year. In 1997, Coach Throneburg was named the Speedline National High School Softball Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. In that same year he was also named Illinois High School Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Illinois Girls’ Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Coach Throneburg received the highest honor possible in high school coaching in August 2000 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he received the National High School Softball Coach of the Year award for 1999. Coach Throneburg was also inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame in 2000 for his playing and coaching accomplishments.
Coach Throneburg presently resides in Casey with his wife, Sue. Their oldest son, Derek, played baseball at the University of Illinois and is currently the Manager of Season Ticket Sales for the St. Louis Cardinals. Their daughter, Dara Updegraff, played softball for the University of Missouri and is presently the Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Softball Coach at LLC. Their youngest son, DJ, played baseball at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC, and is presently the Pitching Coach at Parkland College.
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