At Lincoln-Way West, coaching baseball is about far more than balls and strikes. For Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Jake Zajc, it’s a daily opportunity to help young athletes become disciplined, resilient, and team-minded individuals prepared for life both on and off the field.
"I just read this the other day and really liked it," Zajc says. "'Your actions have to back up your desires.' To me, this falls under the category of being resilient, being mentally tough, and having a ‘nothing is going to stop me’ attitude."
Zajc believes many athletes are motivated by their goals, but reaching those goals takes more than just desire. It requires consistency, discipline, and the willingness to push oneself every day. “Many athletes want to achieve the goals they set out for themselves, but to plan and maintain that work ethic to reach those goals is what separates athletes,” he explains.
At Lincoln-Way West, the baseball program is structured to help athletes build that work ethic. “We provide facilities and equipment, strength and conditioning programs, and advice to help each of them along their journey in the sport,” Zajc says. “There are many moments throughout all of these examples that we educate and challenge our players to push themselves further than they think they can achieve.”
In recognition of his leadership and coaching success, the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association named Jake Zajc the2022 Class 4A Coach of the Year—a testament to his commitment to developing both strong teams and strong individuals.
Character development is a core focus for Zajc and his staff. “I feel that our coaching staff sets the expectations at a high level when it comes to effort and how we conduct ourselves as a baseball program,” he explains. “There are many good and bad teachable moments during a season that you have to address so that the players know what is expected from them as part of the team.”
Zajc's own coaching journey started with the positive experiences he had growing up playing multiple sports. “Once I got into high school sports and witnessed all the aspects of coaching, I knew it was something that I wanted to pursue,” he recalls. His first coaching opportunity came at Reed-Custer High School under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Cougill, whom Zajc credits as a great mentor. “I couldn’t have asked for a better coach or person than Coach Cougill during my first year coaching.”
After stints at Manteno High School and Lincoln-Way Central, Zajc eventually landed the head coaching job at Lincoln-Way West when the school opened. “I owe a lot to all three of these coaches that helped me along the way in my coaching career,” he adds.
Baseball is a sport known for its highs and lows, and Zajc doesn’t shy away from the mental demands the game places on players. “We are always having conversations about mental toughness and what that actually means in baseball,” he says. “Fear and doubt are the silent killers in baseball. It can really set back players for a period of time.”
To help athletes overcome these challenges, Zajc emphasizes mindset and preparation. “Focus on the aspects that you can control like work ethic, positive mindset, and being a great teammate,” he says. “Focusing on bad calls, creating excuses or demonstrating bad behavior/body language isn’t going to help you get through the tough times.”
Leadership is another essential part of the culture Zajc builds. “Our most important rule in our program is being a great teammate,” he says. “There are so many layers to this simple rule. Everything from your work ethic to help the team to how you treat people all fall under this category.”
Spring break trips, he notes, have helped strengthen this culture and allowed team leaders to emerge early in the season. “The stronger foundation of a team gives them more ownership of the team,” he says. “I do believe this helps in the most critical parts of the season when you are going through the ups and downs.”
Zajc also helps players develop confidence by focusing on preparation. “We put the players in pressure situations in practices to make them think for themselves and play out the situations,” he explains. “If you are ‘all in’ each day with your training on the field, in the weight room, during practices, then you have nothing to worry about playing in games.”
He sees clear parallels between the lessons baseball teaches and the realities of life. “In any sport there are relatable instances of everyday life. Terms like work ethic, character, being a great teammate all apply,” he says. “As coaches we need to model leadership qualities for our players.”
Perhaps one of Zajc’s most powerful messages comes when speaking about failure. “When things get tough, how are you going to react?” he asks. “Are you going to make excuses or cut corners, or will you meet these challenges head-on and conquer them with high character?”
At the heart of Zajc’s program is a simple but powerful philosophy: set goals, stick to them, and use every challenge as a stepping stone. “It gives you direction and the ability to make quality decisions,” he says. “Yes, the plan or goals may change along the way but it's important to always have these to use for motivation and guidance.”
Failure and dealing with adversity introduces you to yourself. When things get tough, how are you going to react?