Baseball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Quincy, 1981
Southern Illinois University head baseball coach Dan Callahan died Monday, 11/15/2011 at his home in Carterville, Ill.
Callahan, 52, lost a courageous battle with neurotropic melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer. He was survived by his wife, Stacy, daughters, Alexa and Carly, and parents Ann and Gene. Gene Callahan died 8/4/14.
"This is a tremendous loss and a very sad day not only for the baseball program, its alumni, athletic department, but the entire community,"Â Southern Illinois Athletics Director Mario Moccia said. "He was loved and respected by so many people. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stacy, his girls, family and friends."
Callahan, the second-winningest coach in Saluki history, compiled a 442-447-1 record in 16 seasons as head coach at Southern Illinois. Prior to his hiring at SIU on July 6, 1994, Callahan spent five seasons as the head coach at Eastern Illinois, where he went 153-158-1.
In 22 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Callahan amassed a 595-605-2 record. At the time of his passing, he was one of just five coaches in Missouri Valley Conference history to win over 200 league games.
In the fall of 2009, Callahan received the MVC Most Courageous Award, which is presented to a student-athlete, coach or university administrator who demonstrates unusual courage in the face of personal illness, adversity or tragedy and whose behavior reflects honor on the institution or the conference.
In his time in Carbondale, Callahan produced 23 Major League draft picks and 19 First-Team All-MVC selections. Four of his student-athletes won either the league's Player, Freshman, or Newcomer of the Year Award.
Callahan was born in Springfield, Ill. As an athlete, he pitched for two seasons at the University of New Orleans and two at Quincy College (now Quincy University). He graduated from Quincy in 1981 and went on to pitch in both the San Diego Padres' and Seattle Mariners' organizations.
He started his coaching career at Springfield Lanphier High School before accepting the head coaching position at his high school alma mater, Springfield High School, in 1984. Before taking over the Eastern Illinois program, Callahan served as graduate assistant at SIU in 1986 and 87 as well as an assistant coach/academic coordinator in 1988 under then-head coach Richard "Itchy" Jones. Callahan also coached in the Cape Cod Summer League in 1987.
His SIU uniform #37 will be retired April 25, 2023 before the Salukis' game versus Evansville.
SIU's clubhouse at Itchy Jones Stadium is name for Callahan (The Dan Callahan Clubhouse).
Dan Callahan Year-by-Year
| School | Year | Overall | Conference | Finish | Tourn. Finish | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1989 | 31-19 | 6-2 | 2nd | 2nd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1990 | 24-30 | 4-7 | 2nd | 3rd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1991 | 27-32 | 9-2 | 1st | T3rd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1992 | 24-30 | 13-7 | 1st | 3rd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1993 | 23-23-1 | 9-6-1 | N/A | T3rd | |
| Eastern Illinois | 1994 | 24-24 | 14-8 | 2nd | N/A | |
| EIU Totals | -- | 153-158-1 | 45-33-1 | -- | -- | |
| Southern Illinois | 1995 | 21-30 | 8-21 | 8th | -- | |
| Southern Illinois | 1996 | 29-26 | 18-12 | 3rd | T6th | |
| Southern Illinois | 1997 | 23-32 | 13-15 | 5th | T3rd | |
| Southern Illinois | 1998 | 19-35 | 11-21 | 8th | -- | |
| Southern Illinois | 1999 | 25-29 | 9-22 | 8th | -- | |
| Southern Illinois | 2000 | 26-30 | 15-17 | T5th | 6th | |
| Southern Illinois | 2001 | 19-36 | 10-21 | 8th | -- | |
| Southern Illinois | 2002 | 32-24 | 17-15 | 4th | T6th | |
| Southern Illinois | 2003 | 30-25 | 17-13 | 3rd | 2nd | |
| Southern Illinois | 2004 | 27-32-1 | 15-16-1 | 4th | 2nd | |
| Southern Illinois | 2005 | 38-21 | 15-9 | 3rd | 4th | |
| Southern Illinois | 2006 | 33-25 | 12-12 | 5th | 6th | |
| Southern Illinois | 2007 | 34-22 | 13-11 | t3rd | 6th | |
| Southern Illinois | 2008 | 34-23 | 12-12 | 5th | 3rd | |
| Southern Illinois | 2009 | 24-28 | 12-10 | 5th | 3rd | |
| Southern Illinois | 2010 | 28-29 | 10-10 | t3rd | t5th | |
| SIU Totals | -- | 442-447-1 | 197-227-1 | -- | -- | |
| All-Time Record | -- | 595-605-2 | 242-260-2 | -- | -- |
