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Mike Zunica - Head Baseball Coach
16th Season
Contact: 773.925.6600 ext. 6619 | mzunica@stritahs.com
Coach Mike Zunica is currently entering his 16th season as head baseball coach at St. Rita High School. Before coming to St. Rita in 1997, Coach Zunica was an assistant coach at his alma mater, St. Francis DeSales, and Stagg High School, and he served one season as head coach at Argo Community High School in 1996.
While at St. Rita, Coach Zunica has amassed an overall record of (440-141). During his tenure, he has lead the Mustangs to 9 regional championships, 4 sectional championships, 4 super-sectional championships, and 9 Elite 8 appearances, including summer state championships in 2005 and 2009, and a 2nd place finish in both the spring of 2009 and 2010.
Coach Zunica has brought a very aggressive brand of baseball to St. Rita. With that he has also brought with him a tremendous knowledge of the game, having had the opportunity in his career to work with such people as Pat Murphy (head baseball coach Arizona St. University), Rick Downs (former hitting coach of the New York Yankees), Alan Dunn (current pitching coach for Louisiana St. Univ.), Ron Coomer (former infielder for the Cubs, Dodgers, Twins, and Yankees), and John Cangelosi (former outfielder for the White Sox and member of the 1997 World Champion Florida Marlins).
Coach Zunica graduated from St. Xavier University in Chicago where he was a four-year starter in centerfield, and in 2003 he was elected to the St. Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements on the diamond. In addition, Coach Zunica is in his third year as the Athletic Director at St. Rita after spending his previous 13 years in the Development Office.
John Nee - Associate Head Coach (Defense)
Coach John Nee ‘93 is entering his 15th season on the varsity coaching staff. He is also in his 4th year as Dean of Students at St. Rita. In addition, Coach Nee teaches junior honors English and is currently in his 13th season as the offensive line coach for the varsity football team. His responsibilities on staff include: infield defense and catching. In 2009, Coach Nee was named Associate Head Coach of the Mustangs. While as a student at St. Rita, Coach Nee earned All-Catholic League honors in both baseball and football in his junior and senior seasons, and he earned All-Area honors in his junior and senior years in baseball and in his senior season for football. He continued his playing career at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, where he competed in both baseball and football, playing for college baseball’s all-time winningest coach, Gordie Gillespie.
Vince Fiore - Assistant Coach (Pitching)
Coach Vince Fiore is entering his 14th season as pitching coach at St. Rita. Currently, eight former members of Coach Fiore’s staff are continuing their careers at the collegiate level, highlighted by 2008 Chicago Cubs draft pick, 2009 team USA member, and current University of Louisville pitcher Tony Zych. While at Andrew H.S., Coach Fiore lead the T-Bolts to state championships in the spring and summer of 1992 and the summer of 1993 and was recognized with All-Area and All-State Honors in his senior campaign on the mound. He continued his pitching career at Ole Miss, where he was an SEC academic All-American, playing for former Cub great Don Kessinger.
Assistant Coaches:
J.J. Standring
Rich Josepher
