Nestled in the northeast corner of Iowa, far from any major city, lies the tiny town of Decorah. With a population of a little more than 8,000 people, it doesn't appear on too many maps.

But in the world of high school baseball, Decorah could easily be the capital of the nation's heartland. Of course, that means coach Dennis Olejniczak, who in baseball circles is bigger than apple pie and Kevin Costner, would be the unchallenged mayor.

Thirty-seven years ago, Olejniczak (pronounced Ole-in-zak) came to Decorah High as a 23-year-old with just one year of high school coaching experience, at Iowa's Janesville High. Today, Olejniczak, 60, can boast of three state titles and an eye-popping 1,000 wins.

	Decorah's Dennis Olejniczak is a legend.

But Olejniczak will never actually boast of his 1,000 coaching victories. It's not what the game is about, according to the veteran skipper, who coaches throughout the summer, since that's when high school baseball and softball is played in Iowa. But even the normally stiff-collared, ever-serious Olejniczak couldn't ignore the emotions he felt during the second game of a doubleheader against Waukon High two weeks ago, on June 29.

With a slim 1-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning, and win No. 1,000 just three outs away, Olejniczak couldn't contain his excitement.

"I have to admit it, I had shivers running down my spine," says Olejniczak, whose team was 17-11 as of July 10. "I thought about all the players who had made up all of these wins."

He didn't have to think too hard, as a good number of his former players came back to Decorah for the special home game. It was nothing new. Olejniczak has built a program that the school's alumni are proud of. While he may not own up to it, others see the family atmosphere that surrounds Decorah as a true testament to all of Olejniczak's hard work and dedication.

"I can see myself coming back after I'm done," says junior Jacob Exey. "When he sees all of these people come back, it has to make him feel good and know that he's accomplished something in people's lives."

"When players come back to see him, they talk about how much he taught them," adds junior Aaron Dahlen. "Being just a kid, I don't even realize all the stuff he's teaching me now."

Olejniczak knows a thing or two about building a family. Of course, he has learned a lot from his wife, Paula.

"I always liked sports," says Paula, who has helped her husband with a lot of the grounds keeping at the baseball field over the course of their 40-year marriage. "I guess I've kind of been adopted into the baseball family."

"She's been with me for every single one of those victories. I guess for the losses, too," adds Olejniczak with a chuckle.

Win or lose, Olejniczak doesn't chuckle for long; he is known throughout Iowa as an all-business baseball coach. He says his players have a job to do and he expects them to give their absolute best every time they lace up their cleats.

"He kind of growls at you sometimes," says Exey. "It's not to be mean; he just wants to get the best out of us all the time."

"He's set in his ways, but we need that," adds Dahlen. "His ways are right just about all of the time, anyway."

With 1,000 wins over the span of 38 seasons, Olejniczak has averaged a little more than 26 victories a year. And the 60-year-old coach, whose black hair is speckled with only a little gray, says he has no immediate plan to call it a career.

"I don't have any goals about the number of years I coach or the number of wins I get," says Olejniczak in a matter-of-fact tone. "Right now, there's no feeling of burnout and I'm always enthused to be around the young people. As long as my wife's health and mine hold up, I'll continue to coach. No matter what, I'll always have a love and be a part of the great game of baseball."