Bruce Bazsali, a 1963 graduate of Elgin High School, is inducted into the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame for coaching.
Bazsali coached boys track and field for 5 years at St. Edwards of Elgin and Carmel of Mundelein, setting season records for wins at each school. Bazsali then served as girls’ track and field coach at Rolling Meadows for 9 years, during which his teams won 84 dual meets, while losing 8 and capturing 3 conference championships. Those teams included 30 state qualifiers, 6 medalists, and one state champion.
As the girls softball coach at Prospect High School (1987-1990), Bazsali’s teams compiled a record of 88 victories and 17 losses, winning 2 conference and 3 regional titles.
Bruce began his football coaching career at St. Edwards where he helped lead the team to a 6-3 record and the Sun-Times Comeback Team of the Year award; he also coached ESHOF member and NFL Hall of Famer Dave Casper. Bruce went on to serve as the offensive coordinator for the Class 7A state champion Prospect High football team in 2005. As a head varsity football coach, Bazsali won 104 and lost 85, posting a .550 winning percentage. While at Elk Grove High School, he coached three playoff teams, losing in the state quarter-finals in 2004 following an undefeated regular season. During his tenure at Rockford Lutheran, his teams were 53 – 24 with three conference championships, made the state playoffs five times and reached the Class 4A semi-finals in 2013. His teams set school records with 11 victories at Elk Grove (2004) and Rockford Lutheran (2013, 2014, 2015). As a football coach, Bazsali prepared NFL running back James Robinson while at Lutheran.
Beginning in 2018, Bruce was the assistant head coach/quarterback coach at Casa Grande High School in Arizona where he was instrumental in helping the program win its first playoff game in 23 years, advance to the final four for the first time in program history, and win the state championship in 2021.
Bruce was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006. Bruce’s legacy lies in the innovative programs he created and the athletes he motivated to achieve success not only in sports, but in life.