Career Coaches

Fritz Kazlausky

Year Inducted: 2003

Category: Career Coaches

Schools / Organizations: 
(Fox Lake) Grant High School

Biography: 

Fritz Kazlausky served (Fox Lake) Grant High School as an assistant coach for more than 40 years and won more than 500 games as a freshman, sophomore and varsity assistant coach. He was part of the school’s five 20-win seasons through 2001-02.

He began his career as the freshman coach in 1962 and served in that capacity for three years before becoming a varsity assistant to John Schad and Hall of Fame Coach Phil Ralston for five years. He served under Hall of Fame coach Tom Maple for 32 years.

Kazlausky’s teams were known for their discipline, sound fundamentals, attention to detail and intensity. They were always well-prepared and competitive, even when the talent level was inferior to its opponents. Coaching peers in northern Illinois will vouch for the class, professionalism and expertise he brought to the game.

Beyond his coaching achievements, Kazlausky is known throughout the community as a caring and dedicated teacher and friend to students, players and colleagues. He played football, basketball and baseball at Grant before graduating in 1957 and was one of the first two inductees in the school’s alumni Hall of Fame. He played baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, had a 361-326 record in 27 years as Grant’s head baseball coach, was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986 and was honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association for his service to baseball.