Head Coach: Kevin Vest

Kevin Vest was appointed in August of 2010 to lead the baseball program at Rock Valley College.  Vest accepted the position following a two year stint as an assistant coach at Springfield College of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois.  At SCI, Vest was primarily responsible for working with the Bulldog infielders and assisting with hitters under the direction of head coach Steve Torricelli.   

A Galesburg, Illinois native, Vest was a four year letter-winner and All-Midwest Conference performer as a catcher at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.   Following his playing career, he spent two years as an assistant coach at his alma mater assisting head coach Ed Puck.  Vest was responsible for coaching hitters and catchers during his two seasons on the Blueboys’ staff.   

Following his tenure at Illinois College, Vest maintained the post of assistant baseball coach and sports information director at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.  Serving under head coach Jami Isaacson at Knox College, Vest assisted with catchers and team defense while helping lead the Prairie Fire to the Midwest Conference tournament.  Vest held that position until the summer of 2002 when he was named head baseball coach and sports information director at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, a position he held for four seasons prior to joining the Springfield College staff.  

In addition to his experience in collegiate baseball, Vest has coaching experience in the ranks of professional baseball as well.  After assisting the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League during spring training in 2011, Vest joined their staff as bench coach to manager Rich Austin for the 2012 season. 

In addition to his coaching stops, Vest is also active as a camp instructor for a number of organizations throughout the country and is a member of several coaching associations.  The Rock Valley College skipper has served as a camp instructor at places such as the University of Illinois, Mississippi State University, Springfield College of Illinois, Mickey Owen Baseball School, and Coast to Coast Baseball.  He is also a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. 

“I am honored to be the head baseball coach at Rock Valley College and to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading the program to new heights,” said Vest.  “The success of our program will be evident by our significant achievements not only on the playing field, but in the classroom and community as well.” 

Vest earned a bachelor of arts in physical education from Illinois College and also holds a Master of Arts in organizational leadership from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.  Kevin and his wife, Alicia, are the proud parents of their five-year old daughter, Macey Kay.  

Assistant Coach: Brett Scarpetta

Brett Scarpetta enters his third year as the Golden Eagles pitching coach.  Scarpetta will also just finished his second year for the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League after spending three seasons with the Southern Illinois Miners.

"Brett has done an outstanding job of grooming our pitchers," says Vest.  "He shows a tremendous knowledge of the game in general and pitching specifically.  Most importantly, he has displayed a tremendous ability to communicate that knowledge with our players."


Scarpetta was an 18th round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox after a stellar career at Rockton Hononegah High School.  He chose to continue his career at Madison Area Technical College where he was drafted again after his sophomore season, this time in the 38th round by the Atlanta Braves.  Following two seasons at MATC, Scarpetta finished his collegiate career at Bellevue College in Nebraska.

Scarpetta was a staple on the Miners' pitching staff since he began his professional career in 2008, a season which saw him finish 9-3 with a 3.81 ERA.  His nine wins were good for the third highest single season total in franchise history.  He followed the 2008 campaign with another standout season in 2009 when he posted a 7-4 record and a 3.86 ERA.  In 2010 Scarpetta was once again a contributor in the Miners' playoff run, winning eight games in 13 decisions.  He was traded to the Riverhawks prior to the 2011 season and went 7-6, appearing both as a starter and out of the bullpen.

"Brett has excelled at every level of baseball," says Vest.  "He gives us a guy who has played at the junior college level, moved on to a four year school and then to professional baseball.  Our guys have a great deal to gain from his experiences as a player and knowledge as a coach."

Scarpetta comes from a family synonymous with baseball.  His dad Dennis and uncle Dan both pitched professionally.  Currently, his cousin, Cody, is a prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.  His younger brother, Ryan, played two seasons at RVC.

Assistant Coach: Rich Austin

Rich Austin enters his second year on the Golden Eagles coaching staff and will work primarily with the team’s hitters and outfielders.  Austin also serves as the field manager of the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League.

“We are blessed to have somebody with Rich’s vast experience coaching our hitters,” said third-year head coach Kevin Vest.  “Rich has made an immediate impact on our program both in his ability to develop players and his unparalleled enthusiasm for the game.”

Austin retired from professional baseball after ten years and was immediately named manager of the Riverhawks in April of 2010.  Austin spent half of his 10-year playing career with the organization. He broke into pro ball in 2001 with the Springfield Capitals, who relocated to cavernous Marinelli Field in Rockford and became the RiverHawks following the season. Austin spent 2002-04 and 2010 with the RiverHawks.

In 2004, Austin hit .359 to win the Frontier League batting title, and set single-season team records in home runs (15) and RBI (77) that still stand. Following the season, he was voted Frontier League Most Valuable Player, named by Baseball America magazine to its All-Independent Leagues All-Star Team and was signed by the Kansas City Royals.

Austin moved to the Northern League following his release by the Royals the next spring. He played for three playoff teams, including the 2006 pennant winner, with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. He also played briefly with Tabasco in the Mexican League in 2007 – he became the first former RiverHawk to play at the Triple-A level. Austin played for Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian Baseball League in 2008-09 and was part of a pennant winner his final year in Europe.

The outfielder-first baseman hit .296, the team’s best average among batting-title qualifiers, with nine home runs and 55 RBI last year. He also walked 73 times, a team record and the best in the Northern League, to record a league-best .431 on-base percentage.

Austin finished his career with a .304 average, 104 home runs and 524 RBI. He holds the RiverHawks’ career record for walks (247) and is second on the home-run (41), RBI (204), runs (225), hits (340) and outfield-assists (28) lists.

Austin played in all-star games in 2004-07 and was named to end-of-year All-Star teams in 2004, 2005 and 2008.

Austin makes his home in Rockford with his wife, Andria, and his son, Richard Jr.

Assistant Coach: Jordan Bigger