May 28, 2008

John Kolasinski, or JK as his friends and colleagues call him, is currently the head baseball coach at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich. JK just completed his fifth season for the Saints. He is in his second year as the NAIA Coaches Association President and the AVISTA-NAIA World Series Games Committee Chair. He is wrapping up his 10^th straight World Series as a member of the Games Committee.

* You started your coaching career with NAIA member Husson College in Bangor, Maine where you were at for 15 years. What was your decision to coach in the NAIA, move to Siena Heights, and be a part of the Coaches Association?
One of the main reasons why I left Husson was because Husson was going to NCAA Division III and I was devastated at the thought of leaving the NAIA. I enjoyed the coaches and players in the NAIA that I just couldn't leave the Association. I wanted to be a part of the Coaches Association because of the people who have been involved before me. Some prestigious coaches have had some great careers as members. I am very appreciative that I have moved along in this position.

* What is your role as President of the Coaches Association and the World Series Games Committee?
I oversee the other members of the Committee. The other guys know what is going on and I just make sure everything runs smoothly. I have held the other positions of the Committee so I know how everything works. During the Coaches Convention, I run the coaches meeting and the business caucus where proposals are voted upon.

* Wrapping up your 10^th straight World Series, what are the memories you will take with you?
I have met a lot of great people. The NAIA is very much a grass-roots organization. The coaches are able to better the game of baseball and play an active role in the decisions. Many of their proposals are enacted.

* You have not been fortunate enough to take your own team to the World Series. How important is that for you to get your own team here?
Being a 10-year member of the coaches committee, it makes me hungry as a coach to get my team here. I try to tell the players how the World Series is but you can't know (as a player) until you get here to Lewiston. Baseball is so appreciated in this community that it is such a memorable experience.

* Who are some of the best players you remember seeing in the World Series?
I remember players such as Chris Mabeus of Lewis-Clark State in 2000 & 2001, Freddie Sanchez of Oklahoma City and Lew Ford of Dallas Baptist in 1999. There have been probably 12 guys in the Majors who have been through this World Series who I have seen.

* With your presidency ending, how do you want to be remembered once the 2008 World Series is finished?
I hope coaches feel they got treated fairly out at the World Series every year. That it was the same for everybody and that they got a great experience.

* Next year, the World Series participants will qualify directly through their conferences. That is different from the regional qualification plan in recent years. How do you feel about the new qualification structure heading into 2009?
There will be nine sites of five teams each in the opening round games. I am concerned that a northern site team will have a tougher road to the World Series and those teams will not be represented. I like the idea of nine mini-Lewiston's hosting the opening-round games based on the bidding process. The thing that will always remain is if you win on the field, you will make it to the World Series.

* With the World Series being in Lewiston for 17 overall years including the ninth straight, how special is the community when it hosts?
It should definitely stay here. If you ask any coach, the experience has been the best for them right here. My first year in 1999, the event was held in Jupiter, Fla., and it did not have great fan support. Then my second year, we were back in Lewiston and we found that this was where the coaches and players wanted it.