Cooper Stewart is entering his third season with the Western Illinois baseball team. Stewart joined the staff after an extremely successful playing career for the Fighting Leathernecks and will aid in the development of the catchers.

In 2011, Stewart guided John Koszulinksi to All-League Second team selection and the senior catcher tossed out 19 base runners.

In 2010, Stewart helped coach Jason Summers to a league high .423 batting average. In addition, helped Koszulinski to a team high 49 RBI's and 6 home runs. Koszulinski also ranked third on the team with a .354 batting average.

During his four-year playing career at Western, Stewart batted .270 with 67 RBI. He also hit three home runs, four triples and 37 doubles. Stewart ranks fifth in career games played (173), fourth in walks (84), eighth in runs scored (111) and sixth in doubles in Western's all-time top ten lists.

Stewart's senior campaign in 2009 was the best of his career as the Sterling, Ill., native batted a career best .337 with a career-high 12 doubles. He also committed just six errors in 45 starts behind the plate.

In 2008, Stewart finished the season ranked as the 23rd toughest player to strikeout in the nation, striking out just eight times in 144 at-bats. He led the team with 24 walks, threw out 42 percent (16-of-38) of base runners and was named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic All-League Team and the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.

As a sophomore, Stewart finished the 207 season with a .991 fielding precentage and threw out 37 percent (17-of-45) base stealers while starting in 51 games and was named to The Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.

Stewart appeared in 29 games as a freshman in 2006, making 18 starts while recording the third most putouts on the team and recording a .981 fielding percentage to go along with 16 assists.

Stewart was a three-time all-conference selection at Sterling High School where he earned four varisty letters and was a two-time team MVP. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and National Honor Roll as a high school student.

He earned his bachelors degree from Western Illinois in the fall of 2009 and is currently pursuing his master's degree in sports management at Western.

Career Highlights

2009 (Senior Season): Batted a career-best .337 with 44 runs scored and a .535 slugging percentage... took over leadoff duties after Cole Waddell suffered a season ending injury... led team with a .444 on-base percentage... batted .385 in Summit League games with a team-best nine doubles and 33 runs scored... picked up three hits at No. 11 Oklahoma State (March 18)... collected five hits in three-game weekend series with Iowa (March 21-22)... scored seven runs and had seven hits in four-game series at Oakland (April 4-5)... set career-high with 5-for-6 effort at the plate with four runs scored against South Dakota State (April 24)... was perfect 4-for-4 with four runs scored at IPFW (May 2)... wrapped up career with 84 walks, fourth most in school history... ranks fifth all-time at Western with 173 career games played... tied for sixth place in doubles for a career with 37... scored the tenth most runs in school history with 107.

2008 (Junior Season): Finished the season as the 23rd toughest player to strike out in the nation... batted .236 with 18 RBI... led the team with 24 walks... hit seven doubles, one triple and one home run... threw out 42 percent (16-of-38) of base runners... received Summit League Winter/Spring Academic All-League Team honors... named to The Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.

2007 (Sophomore season): Ranked sixth in the nation with 0.35 sacrifice hits per game... recorded 11 doubles while batting .232... started in all 51 games played... committed just three errors behind the plate for a .991 fielding percentage... threw out 37 percent (17-of-45) of would-be base stealers... Named to the Mid-Con Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence and The Summit League Winter-Spring Academic All-Conference Team.

2006 (Freshman season): Hit .274 with one home run and 14 RBIs... started 18 of the 29 games in which he played... recorded the third most putouts on the team... recorded a .981 fielding percentage along with 16 assists.

High School
Earned four varsity letters at Sterling High School... was a three-time all-conference selection... was a two-time first-team all-area member... named the team’s most improved player after his sophomore season... was a two-time team MVP and Silver Slugger Award winner... won the Team Player of the Year and Golden Glove Awards as a senior... was a member of the National Honor Society and National Honor Roll.