Rock Valley College Athletics

Since taking over the Rock Valley College baseball program in the fall of 2016, Chad Herren has established the Golden Eagles as one of the premier NJCAA Division II programs in the Midwest. In addition to serving as head baseball coach, Herren also holds the role of Assistant Athletic Director at Rock Valley College.

Under Herren’s leadership, the Golden Eagles have consistently achieved success both on the field and in the classroom. More than 110 student-athletes have advanced to four-year institutions during his tenure, with players continuing their careers across more than 20 states. Every sophomore who has chosen to continue playing baseball after Rock Valley College has successfully transferred to a four-year program. Herren has also guided the program to more than 250 victories since arriving in Rockford.

The 2026 season marked another milestone for the Golden Eagles, who reached the NJCAA Region 4 Final Four while winning 36 games. Jackson Neilitz earned First Team All-Region honors in the outfield, while Landon Ubrig received First Team All-Region recognition as an infielder. Assistant Coach Jack Howard continued to elevate the offense as the team once again rewrote the record books for home runs. Former pitcher Mason Lei won the Missouri Valley Conference and is heading into Regionals along with Griffin Smith for Washington State University. The Golden Eagles finished the year ranked 23rd in the country by the NJCAA. Also, the team finished with their best GPA again doing great work in the classroom with a overall 3.3 grade point average!  

In 2025, Rock Valley posted a 42-17 overall record and continued its rise as a national contender. The season was highlighted by right-handed pitcher Ethan Storm being selected in the 13th round of the MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays after originally committing to the University of Oklahoma. Gavin Obremski and Jameson Johnson earned All-Region honors, while Chase Wiese received the Region IV Rawlings Gold Glove Award. All 20 sophomores from the roster found opportunities at four-year institutions, including eight players who advanced to the Division I level. Herren credited assistant coaches Jack Howard and Tyler Ingram for the program’s continued offensive and pitching success.

The 2024 season saw the Golden Eagles finish 42-15 and climb to No. 19 in the NJCAA national rankings. Rock Valley earned two NJCAA All-Americans in Griffin Smith and Jackson Lindquist while finishing just two wins shy of the NJCAA World Series. Smith, a Washington State commit, posted an undefeated 11-0 record on the mound. Nationally, the pitching staff ranked ninth in team ERA (3.81) and 11th in strikeouts per nine innings. Offensively, the Golden Eagles ranked among the national leaders with 65 home runs, 151 stolen bases, 110 doubles, and a top-three finish in triples. The program also earned NJCAA Academic All-American Team recognition for its excellence in the classroom.

During the 2023 season, Rock Valley won 32 games and advanced to the championship game of the Region IV Sectional Tournament. Eleven players moved on to four-year programs across seven states, while six players competed in the prestigious Northwoods League, one of the nation’s top collegiate summer baseball leagues.

The 2020 season was poised to be one of the program’s strongest before it was abruptly canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Golden Eagles were returning from their spring trip prepared to make a run toward the NJCAA National Tournament in Greenville, Tennessee, before the season came to an end.

In 2021, eleven players advanced to four-year schools, including Tyler Ingram, who transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago. Evan Tocmo earned All-Region IV Second Team honors and, along with Jimmy Fairley, received Region IV Gold Glove recognition.
Herren’s 2019 squad established a new program record with 38 victories and earned the No. 1 seed entering postseason play. Rock Valley rose as high as No. 5 nationally in the NJCAA rankings. Zac Cummins had one of the most decorated seasons in program history, earning NJCAA First Team All-American honors, Region IV Player of the Year, Gold Glove recognition, and ABCA/Rawlings All-American honors. The Golden Eagles finished among the national leaders offensively, ranking third in triples, fourth in stolen bases, and posting a .336 team batting average.

The program’s breakthrough began in 2018 when Rock Valley won a then-school-record 34 games. Herren was named N4C Coach of the Year, while multiple players earned All-Conference, All-Region, and Gold Glove honors. The Golden Eagles also ranked nationally in doubles, stolen bases, batting average, and strikeouts.

Beyond team accomplishments, Herren has helped numerous players compete in respected collegiate summer leagues, including the Northwoods League, Prospect League, MINK League, Jayhawk League, Ohio Valley League, and Mid-Plains League.

Before arriving at Rock Valley College, Herren spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Washburn University, an NCAA Division II program in Topeka, Kansas. During his tenure, Washburn posted a 33-win season, reached the final three of the MIAA Tournament, and climbed into the national rankings. Herren worked extensively with pitchers, catchers, and corner infielders while also coordinating recruiting, showcases, and developmental camps. He played a key role in the development of catcher David Gauntt, who was later selected in the MLB Draft.

Herren has also coached internationally in the Dominican Republic, Germany, and Italy, working with high school and collegiate players.

Prior to the collegiate level, Herren served as head coach at Lyndon High School and Rock Creek High School in Kansas. At Rock Creek, he led the program to multiple state tournament appearances, including a 3A state runner-up finish in 2014. He was named Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Coach of the Year in 2012 and coached three Players of the Year during a four-year span. Across both high school and collegiate coaching, Herren has accumulated more than 350 career victories.
A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Herren earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Washburn University in 2003 and a master’s degree in education from Baker University in 2007. He and his wife, Keri, have two daughters, Boey and Kai.