Scouts were given total access to the ISU baseball roster
Mike Current's hard work and persistent effort have led to steady gains for the Illinois State baseball program over the past seven years. Current assists in all aspects of the program and works particularly with the outfielders and hitters. He also coordinates Illinois State's baseball camps and assists with recruiting.
Since the Bloomington, Ill., native joined the Redbirds' coaching staff in 2006, Illinois State has seen its winning percentage increase in each consecutive season, culminating in 2011 with the Redbirds' winningest season in program history.
In 2010, Current helped the Redbirds to their first-ever share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship and ISU's first Valley Tournament title since 1994. Current also assisted the Redbirds to their first winning season and trip to the postseason in eight years during the 2009 campaign.
Current was promoted to assistant coach in September 2007, after spending two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach. As then-head coach Jim Brownlee's only full-time assistant in 2008, Redbird hitters improved in nearly every category from the 2007 season. The Redbirds continued an upward trend in 2009 as the team's batting average climbed.
In his first season at ISU, the Bloomington High School product mentored then-freshman Kevin Dubler, who went on to be named a 2006 All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention selection at catcher.
Dubler continued his success in 2007, as he was a first-team All-MVC selection as a designated hitter. Dubler ended his career at Illinois State as a Johnny Bench Award semi-finalist and was selected in the eighth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Current also spent time working with former Redbird standout Ryan Anetsberger, who was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 15th round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
In summer 2006, Current coached for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the prestigious Cape Cod League, and helped the team to a league championship in his first coaching stint in the league.
Current first joined the Illinois State baseball staff after he graduated from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill., in May 2005, where he was a two-year letterwinner at shortstop. As a senior, Current helped the Beavers to a 28-14 record, which ranked as the most wins in a season in school history. Prior to attending Blackburn, Current spent two years at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill.
Current, who earned his master's degree in sport management from Illinois State in May 2007, resides in Bloomington, Ill., with his wife, Heather.
