Few people can say they coached for as long as Ed Howe did.
Even fewer end their careers with an undefeated season.
Howe, who turns 80 on Nov. 14, capped a 40-year Little League baseball coaching career on Aug. 15 when his Angeli’s team beat Rubin Foot and Ankle 10-1 to win the Naperville Little League Major championship. The team consists of players ages 11 and 12.
Angeli’s finished 18-0, outscoring opponents 209-17. The team is managed by Brian Umbright, while Howe served as hitting coach.
“It was really special,” Howe said. “They had a little ceremony for me afterward, and 10 or 11 former players came and gave me notes.”
Howe, who lives in Villa Park, played baseball at York and later in semipro leagues before getting a master’s degree in business from Northwestern and becoming the CEO of two different companies.
The father of four and grandfather of five began coaching Little League in Downers Grove. He got involved in Naperville Little League in 1988, when he helped his son and son-in-law coach his nephews Jim and Joe.
Howe developed a reputation as a hitting coach extraordinaire through studying the teachings of MLB hitting coaches. He has served as both a manager and coach while never losing his love for baseball.
“I do have a passion for teaching the kids today,” Howe said. “My goal for every kid is to develop them so they would have the potential to play for their high school team.”
Indeed, many of the kids who have played at Naperville Central in recent years were coached by Howe, including his grandson Zac Lis, who now pitches for Illinois Institute of Technology.
Picture Source: Photo courtesy of Troy Adams
