Chris Erwin

Coach Erwin is a Godfrey native and graduate of Marquette Catholic High School and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. While at Southern Illinois University, Erwin was a four year starter in baseball helping his team to a 1997 College World Series Appearance and 5th place finish, as well as two conference championships and reaching as high as the #2 ranked baseball team in the nation in 1998. After completing his college career, Erwin was drafted by the Texas Rangers and played one season of professional baseball. Erwin started his coaching career in 1999 at Macomb High School where he was the head baseball coach for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

While in Macomb, Chris also completed his Master’s Degree in Sport Management at Western Illinois University. Erwin then moved to Texas, where he coached for Buffalo High School in 2001 and 2002, leading the Bison to a District Title. From there, Erwin was an assistant coach at Texan Lutheran University from 2003 to 2005, working with the catchers, outfielders and hitters, as well as leading the recruiting efforts. During the summers months while coaching at Texas Lutheran University, Erwin was the head coach of several Premier NCAA Wooden Bat Leagues. He guided the New Jersey Colts of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League to a first place finish in league play, the Bluff City Bombers of the Central Illinois Collegiate League to a league championship, and the Huntingburg Bombers of the Central Illinois Collegiate League to a runner up finish. During his time as a college baseball coach, Erwin saw 32 of his players sign professional contracts.

Coach Erwin was hired to lead the Father McGivney baseball program in Aug of 2019 and promptly had the first season cancelled due to COVID in 2020. Since being hired in 2019 and having the first season in 2021, Coach Erwin has had 21 players go on to play baseball in college and 6 at the NCAA Division 1 Level and 4 players honored by the IHSA as 1st Team All State. In the first five seasons under the guidance of Coach Erwin the Griffins have won 31 or more games in each of those seasons. During that timeframe the Griffins have won 5 Conference Championships, 4 Regional Championships, 3 Sectional Championships, 2 Super Sectional Championships and finished as State Runner Up in 2021 and 2025. Coach Erwin has been recognized by the IHSCBA as Area Coach of the Year in both 2021 and 2025.

“I am extremely excited to take over the McGivney baseball program. This is a very special place where faith, family, and baseball all come together,” said Chris.  He and his wife Alicia have four children -  Noah, Kason, Julia, and Eli. They are parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton and reside in Edwardsville.