April 22, 2014

Make a Memorial Gift

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the Lee and Euline Eilbracht Memorial Scholarship Fund on Tuesday. The Eilbracht Scholarship was established to assist in the education of University of Illinois baseball student-athletes through a generous donation from the family of legendary Fighting Illini head coach Lee Eilbracht and his wife, Euline.

Eilbracht is the winningest coach in Illini baseball history and earned All-America honors as a collegiate player. He compiled 518 wins in 27 seasons at the helm from 1952-78 along with being a three-time letterwinner as a player (1943, 46-47). The St. Louis, Mo., native won four Big Ten titles and led the Orange and Blue to the NCAA District Playoffs three times.

As an Illini player, he was tabbed an All-American in 1947, picked up team MVP honors in 1946-47 and led the Big Ten in hitting in 1946 with a .484 batting average. Following a career in professional baseball as a player and manager in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system, Eilbracht was named Illinois' head coach in 1952. He guided the Illini to conference titles in his first two seasons (1952-53), followed by two more Big Ten championships in 1962-63. His UI squads also reached the NCAA District Playoffs in his debut season along with two more appearances in 1962-63.

Eilbracht was an Olympic coach in 1964 for the United States baseball team in Japan and served as the first executive director for the American Baseball Coaches Association. He retired following the 1978 season and also worked as an analyst on Illini baseball broadcasts starting in the 1990s. For several major league spring trainings, Eilbracht was a consultant for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Euline taught at the University of Illinois from 1953-74. She began her career in the athletic department teaching rhetoric and English classes to athletes. She married Lee in 1967 then retired early in order to travel with Lee to offer her talents to her church and her community. She became one of the most avid fans of University of Illinois baseball and could be found in the stands with parents of players cheering on the team at both home and away games.

Contributions to the Lee and Euline Scholarship fund can be made by contacting the I FUND at 217-333-6595 or online HERE. When making a Memorial Gift, select "In Memory of" and indicate the Lee and Euline Eilbracht Memorial Scholarship Fund.