Naperville Central Coach to Enter Hall of Fame

Mike Stock will be inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on December 5.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Baseball

Naperville Central Coach to Enter Hall of Fame

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Naperville Central head baseball coach Mike Stock will be honored with an induction into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Dec. 5, 2026. The veteran coach also announced his plans to retire from his position following the 2028 season.

Why it matters

Stock is the fourth coach from Naperville Central to earn this state-level recognition, highlighting the program's long-standing success. His upcoming induction follows a career defined by his dual roles as a former player and long-term leader for the Redhawks.

Mike Stock holds a career coaching record of 299-178 across his 16 seasons as head coach. His 2026 squad finished with a 30-11 record and achieved a fourth-place finish.

The players

Mike Stock

He is the current head baseball coach at Naperville Central who will be inducted into the state Hall of Fame.

Bill Seiple

He is a former Naperville Central head coach who was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996.

Dick Smith

He was a pioneering coach at Naperville Central who was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1982.

The details

Stock, a 1990 Naperville Central graduate, served as an assistant coach for 13 years before taking over the program. He follows previous inductees Dick Smith, Bill Seiple, and Phil Lawler as the fourth coach from the school to receive this honor.

1982: Dick Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
1988: Mike Stock played for the school state championship team.
2026: The baseball team finished the season with a 30-11 record.
Dec. 5, 2026: Mike Stock will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Season Trajectory

Stock's induction reinforces the status of Naperville Central as a premier baseball program within the Illinois high school landscape. This recognition aligns the program with a history of state-level coaching excellence established by previous inductees from the school.

The announcement confirms that the current coaching leadership remains in place through the 2028 season, providing stability for student-athletes currently in the program. Future rosters will be shaped by the 2026 team's 30-11 performance, which serves as the current benchmark for the team's competitiveness.

The takeaway

Mike Stock leaves a significant legacy as a player and coach who has dedicated 40 years to the Naperville Central baseball community. His transition to the Hall of Fame reflects the lasting impact that long-tenured coaches can have on the trajectory of high school sports programs.

What happens next

Mike Stock will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at a banquet on Dec. 5, 2026, and he is scheduled to retire as head coach following the 2028 high school baseball season.