UIC Baseball MLK Youth Camp

The UIC baseball program has evolved into a perennial league champion and regional contender over the course of the last decade, and Sean McDermott has played an immense role in the Flames’ maturation process every step of the way since his arrival in 1998. McDermott works primarily with UIC’s offense and defense, and the Flames have thrived in both departments during his tenure.

In the summer of 2013, McDermott was promoted to Associate Head Coach after serving as assistant coach for the previous 15 seasons.

With McDermott on the bench alongside head coach Mike Dee, UIC rattled off nine consecutive 30-plus win seasons from 2000-08, including seven straight campaigns of 35 victories or more from 2002-08. In 2017, the squad matched the 2002 and 2003 squads with a school-record 39 wins.

Four players were picked in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Horizon League Pitcher of the Year and NCBWA All-American Ryan Campbell was the second highest selection in program, as he was taken in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Reds. The conference’s Relief Pitcher of the Year, Charlie Cerny, was also nabbed on day two by the Oakland Athletics. On the final day of the draft, catcher Aaron Ackerman (Los Angeles Dodgers) and pitcher Reid Birlingmair (Oakland Athletics) were selected.