HEAD COACH – Dave Garcia
David Garcia (pronounced “GARSH-shuh”) is excited to begin his sixth year as the Head Baseball Coach at Southwestern Illinois College. He took on this role in July 2020 after spending two years as the hitting coach at Western Carolina University. Garcia has made a significant impact during his tenure; in his third season, he achieved an impressive milestone by surpassing 300 career wins, boasting an overall record of 397 wins, 193 losses, and 3 ties. One of his proudest accomplishments is helping players advance to higher levels in baseball.
Garcia’s journey in junior college baseball has been remarkable. Before joining SWIC, he served as the head coach at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, where he led the Cobras to an outstanding record of 214 wins and 88 losses over five seasons. Under his leadership, the team made three consecutive appearances in the NJCAA Division II World Series, finishing as the National Championship Runner-Up in 2018. In 2017, Parkland achieved an impressive 53-8 record and finished third nationally. Over his last two seasons, the Cobras won a remarkable 103 games.
With a talent for player development, Garcia successfully helped 47 players transition to NCAA Division I programs from junior college. He has been recognized as the Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) Coach of the Year twice, in 2016 and 2017, and received the Region 24 Coach of the Year honor for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. Garcia has also mentored five NJCAA All-Americans and saw five players drafted into Major League Baseball.
Garcia’s coaching experience extends beyond college baseball; he has eight years of professional coaching experience as well. He served as the bench coach for the River City Rascals in O’Fallon, Missouri, where the team clinched the league championship in 2010. In 2011, he helped set a league record with 68 regular season wins. Additionally, he worked with the Joliet Slammers and the Normal CornBelters in the Frontier League, serving as both a hitting coach and an assistant. From 2017 to 2018, he worked as an associate scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, scouting potential prospects from the Big Ten, Missouri Valley Conference, and junior college teams. During his eight seasons in the independent league, 23 players mentored by him signed with MLB-affiliated teams—an incredible achievement!
Originally from Granville, Illinois, Garcia played collegiate baseball at Parkland College from 1998 to 2000 before transferring to Northern Illinois University. After his senior season, he fulfilled his dream by signing a professional contract with the Rockford Riverhawks in the Frontier League.
Here’s a quick overview of his coaching record:
**Parkland College Achievements**
-2014: 32-24
-2015: 34-24
-2016: 45-17 (NJCAA 8th Place)
-2017: 52-9 (NJCAA 3rd Place)
-2018: 51-16 (NJCAA National Runner-Up)
-2019-2020: Hitting Coach at Western Carolina University
**Southwestern Illinois College Record:**
– 2021: 29-27
– 2022: 32-25
– 2023: 41-16
– 2024: 37-21
– 2025: 44-14 (Region Champs)
**Career Highlights:**
– Region 24 Champions
– 3 NJCAA World Series Appearances
– Overall Head Coaching Record: 397-193
– Most Recent Draft Pick: Brendan Brock (2025)
– Coached 5 NJCAA All-Americans
With a warm approach and a deep passion for the game, Coach Garcia continues to inspire athletes and cultivate a vibrant baseball program at Southwestern Illinois College!
Casey Fair – Associate Head Coach
Coach Fair is in his fifth season with the Blue Storm pitching staff. He was appointed as the SWIC pitching coach for the 2024-2025 season. Previously, he worked with a local program, where he advanced to the position of Director of Pitching after overseeing their youth programs for several years.
Under Fair’s guidance, the Blue Storm pitching staff has significantly improved on the mound. Casey has baseball coaching experience at multiple levels; he served as an assistant coach at Collinsville High School for three years and was the head coach for various Extreme Elite teams over the past five years. This past summer, Casey was the pitching coach for the Springfield Lucky Horeshoe’s in the Prospect League.
Fair was also a left-handed pitcher at Illinois College. Originally from Bethalto, IL, Casey attended Civic Memorial High School and is currently a resident of Collinsville, Illinois.
Jackson Blemler- Assistant Coach
Jackson Blemler, a Bloomington/Normal native joins Coach Garcia’s staff after an impressive 5 year college career. Jackson spent three seasons playing at Parkland College before transferring to UIS. In the summer of 2025, Blemler started his college coaching career in the Prospect League under legendary summer coach Billy Dubois and the Normal Cornbelters. Blemler will be the infield coach for the Blue Storm this season.
Adam Donachie – 3rd Base Coach/Catching Coach
Adam Donachie had a successful playing career spanning 15 professional seasons, during which he played as a catcher, first baseman, and third baseman. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2002 MLB Draft.
Throughout his nine seasons in affiliated baseball, Donachie advanced to Triple-A in the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he received three invitations to Big League Spring Training. He also reached Double-A with the Kansas City Royals organization, where he got five Big League Spring Training invites.
In 2012, he signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League (an independent league) and played five seasons with the team. In 2017, he transitioned into a player-coach role, marking the beginning of his coaching career.
Since then, Donachie has served as a coach at Chicago State University and has been the catching coordinator for the Nexen Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization. Known as “Donnie,” he is currently in his second season as the hitting coach for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the American Association.
He is the catching coordinator and hitting coach on Coach Garcia’s staff, having worked with him since 2021. Renowned for his baseball intelligence, Donachie guided last year’s Division 1 First Team All-American catcher, Brendan Brock, who is an Oklahoma signee and a 14th-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Trevor Minder – Hitting Coach
Trevor, originally from Springfield, Illinois, is in his third year of coaching collegiate baseball and is already making waves in the field. A 2017 graduate of Springfield High School, he demonstrated his exceptional athletic prowess as a player at Parkland College in Champaign. He then advanced his career at Tulane University, where he not only excelled on the baseball team but also earned a degree in health and wellness.
Before transitioning to coaching, Trevor was a standout shortstop for the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer League. Last season, he took charge of coaching infielders and hitters, and he quickly established himself as an elite coach. His impressive track record includes developing Zach Zychowski, a Division I infielder at Purdue, and Brendan Brock, a Division I hitter who was selected as a 14th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. Trevor’s influence on his players and the program is profound and unmistakable.
Kevin Muendlein – Outfield Coach
Coach Muendlein, a lifelong native of Belleville, has been coaching at various levels for 37 years. The 2026 season marks his fifth year on the Blue Storm coaching staff. Known as “Coach Kev,” he is a key figure in the defensive development of the Blue Storm outfield. His dedication and expertise have successfully guided several players to become Division 1 outfielders, including the latest standout, 2025 graduate Dane DeWees. Coach Muendlein’s two sons, Corey and Aaron (also known as Ace), both played at SWIC under Hall of Fame Coach Neil Fiala.
Bill Lee – Bench Coach
Recognized nationally as one of the most influential baseball heads of the last 50 years, Bill Lee has a lifelong history in the sport. Following his collegiate career, Lee signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves. He played pro ball in 1976 & 1977.
In 1980, he entered the world of sports management with the Birmingham Barons. He spent 4 years with the Barons prior to being named the General Manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts of the AA Southern League. In 1990, he was named VP of Marketing for the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club. He won the Western Hockey League Marketing Award in both 1991 and 1992.
In 1994, he was named the first Commissioner of the Frontier League. He helped the League grow into a 16 team League with 13 teams in the US and 3 in Canada. The Frontier League (now a partner of Major League Baseball) has grossed over one million fans while helping 100+ players earn affiliated contracts. He held that position until March of 2021 when he retired from the League.
Outfield Coach – Zach Neff
Zach is entering his second year with the Blue Storm during the 2025-2026 season. His versatility as a coach, helping with hitters, pitchers, and outfielders, is invaluable. During his three seasons at Austin Peay, Zach made 60 appearances (12 of which were starts) and recorded a 6.55 ERA over 136.0 innings pitched. He achieved 139 strikeouts and issued 39 walks. Additionally, Zach has made an impact both on the field and in the classroom; he was named to the 2014-15 Ohio Valley Conference Honor Roll, and he is a three-time Dean’s List member as well as a six-time member of the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.
Assistant Coach – Sam Bonaldi
Sam is a local product out of Columbia, IL. Sam was one of Coach Garcia’s first recruits at SWIC and played OF for the Blue Storm in 2022 and 2023. Same is an education major at SIUE and will graduate in 2025.