BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – Legendary Belvidere Bucs baseball coach Kenny Anderson will be inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Hall of Fame next month.
Anderson, who many knew as ‘Chief’, died Sept. 8, 2025, at the age of 78. Those who played for him or coached with him say he left an enduring legacy on the game of baseball.
He is the winningest baseball coach in Bucs history with more than 500 of them. Anderson coached the team to nine conference championships, five regional titles, three sectional appearance and one trip to state.
He spent more than three decades in Belvidere athletics.
“Coach Anderson taught me more than just baseball. He taught me how to be a man. His lessons have stayed with me long after I hung up my cleats,” said Tyler G., Class of 2004.
“There was no one more prepared, more passionate, or more committed tohis players. You always knew where you stood with Coach—and that was right beside him,“ said Mike R., Assistant Coach & Former Player.
“He made us believe we were part of something bigger. Coach Anderson didn’t just build teams—he built a legacy,“ said Jason K., Class of 1997.
‘Chief’ and the other honorees will be recognized at the IHSBCA Hall of Fame Banquet on Dec. 6 at Embassy Suites in Naperville.
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