The Fastpitch Chronicle

Each year I try to update my list of head coaches at all the schools and co-ops. It is always a time consuming chore. However, this year it's the easiest it's ever been but not because there are fewer new head coaches. Instead it's because our friend Brent Erdmann from New London started working on the list last fall. 

Between the two of us we have a list that is very close to complete. We have 11 schools that I will be contacting athletic directors at to get the name and emails for their new head softball coach. Those 11 programs either have nobody listed on the WIAA School Director as the head softball coach or the person listed is someone who is not going to be in that position during the upcoming season.

Here is a list in alphabetical order of the 11 programs mentioned above. If you have the information we are looking for just drop an email to faspich1@gmail.com. Baldwin-Woodville, Ellsworth, Hurley, Kewaunee, 
Ladysmith, Northland Pines, Oconto Falls, Oshkosh North, Sparta, Two Rivers and Waupaca.

In a bit of news on the new coaching front tells us that former Aracdia pitching great, Taylor Haines has taken over the reins at her alma mater as she replaces Dave "Boots" Bjorge who led the program for 19 seasons. Here they numbers for Boots: 291 wins, 4 conference titles, 12 Sweet 16s, 4 Elite 8s, 4 Final Fours, a runner-up finish at the Final Four in 2007 and a state championship in 2014. Haines was the unbeaten pitcher and the WFSCA State Player of the Year in that 2014 season.  At LaCrosse Central longtime head coach Kevin Colburn is apparently coming back for a second stint. If it's true Colburn enters the 2023 season having coaches in at least 300 victories. He appears under the 300 Win Heading on this website but an exact number is not listed herein. At Gale-Etrrick-Trempeleau Dan Stuhr has stepped down after a long career there. Nate Dejager has stepped to take the reins there. 

Here is the alphabetical list of programs in transition this spring and coaches we have been told will be taking over the programs. If you notice something we have is wrong just contact us at faspich1@gmail.com. If you can supply us with emails that would be great. That way we can get in touch with them and introduce them to the website and it's free benefits.

Arcadia - Taylor Haines
Baraboo - Derek Smith
Barron - Kristen Sigurdsen
Baldwin-Woodville - Charlie Tobin
Brown Deer - Chris Miller and David Winger
Big Foot - Troy Hummel
Cudahy - Michael Batson
De Soto - Michelle Beck
Ellsworth - Tom Diercks
Evansville - Jay Hrdlicka
G-E-T - Nate Dejager
Germantown - Jason Otto
Hurley - Randy King
Jefferson - Doug Messman
Kenosha Tremper - Emma Dummer
Kewaunee - Ellie Olson
Kewaskum - Chris Sabish
LaCrosse Central - Kevin Colburn
Ladysmith - Jessica Bectel
Lakeland Union - Whitney Tornow
Lodi - Korey Stark
Mondovi - Chad Risler -- longtime Independence/Gilmanton head coach
Nicolet - Ryan Michael
Oconomowoc - Brooke Balk
Oconto - Blake Jersey
Oconto Falls - unknown
River Falls - Matt Smithy
River Ridge - Jennifer Drew
St. Mary Catholic - Jennifer Rodman
St. Francis - Jeff Martin
Shell Lake - David Zebro
Sparta - Erik Jones
Somerset - Josh Wells
Sun Prairie West - New High School this year -- Ellyn Presto
Two Rivers - Kirk Shillcox
Waupaca - unknown
Winneconne - Tyler Lee
Wittenberg-Birnamwood - Joe Ladika
Whitefish Bay - Dave Berghaus from Nicolet

In the near future look for a list of noteable teams in all five divisions as teams get ready to start the season with the official first day of practice set for March 13th.