Famed baseball coach and scout Rich Hacker spent 2 1⁄2 years (1976-1978) coaching at Southeastern Illinois College. “There are so many good memories…our first child Roger was born there,” said Hacker. During Hacker’s SIC stint, the program won a state championship and a third-place state finish. “I remember a lot of fine people -- like John Thompson (who is no longer with us), Ben Cullers, Ken Joggerst, Virgil Motsinger, Dave Wiman, Gary Allen and Terry Tripp -- who made those 2 1⁄2 years in Harrisburg some of the most wonderful years of my life, and all of the good players and people that played for SIC made the baseball program so successful,” he recalled.
Post-SIC, Hacker spent 1979-1986 as a scout and minor league manager for San Diego Padre, Toronto Blue Jay, and St. Louis Cardinal baseball organizations. From 1986 to 1990, he coached for legendary manager Whitey Herzog and the St. Louis Cardinals, including coaching in the 1987 World Series (won by the Minnesota Twins). Another highlight was being named coach for the National League in the 1988 all-star game. Hacker served as third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1991 to July of 1993, including the 1992 World Series in which Toronto beat the Atlanta Braves. From 1996-2000, Hacker again served as a scout for the San Diego Padres. In 2001, he was selected to the Midwest Professional Baseball Scouts Association Hall of Fame.
Retired since 2001, Rich and wife Kathryn live in Belleville. He is the proud father of Roger, 27, Scott, 23, and Katy, 21.