Jaime Wohlbach is in her third season as head coach of the Iona College softball team. Wohlbach's presence was immediately noticable in her second season as the Gaels increased their team batting average, slugging and on-base percentages from the year earler. On the hill, the Gaels' pitching staff lowered the team earned run average, surrendered fewer hits and pitched more complete games.
Iona College Director of Athletics Patrick Lyons named Wohlbach head coach of the Gaels, on July 31, 2007. Wohlbach brings to Iona an extensive softball background as a professional player and instructor.
"We are extremely excited and fortunate to have Jaime join our team," said Lyons. "Her experience as a player, coach and instructor will prove invaluable as we start a new era for Iona College softball."
"I would like to thank Pat for the opportunity to work at Iona College," said Wohlbach. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of not only continuing the success of the program, but also bringing Iona College softball to the next level of NCAA contention."
Prior to joining the Gaels, Wohlbach's most recent coaching experience came as an assistant with Lehigh University. She served as the team's hitting coach and worked with the team's catchers. Wohlbach also assisted in practice sessions and strength and conditioning workout programs. Additional experience at the collegiate level include seasons at the University of Pennsylvania, a previous stint at Lehigh and two years as a volunteer assistant with Muhlenberg College.
Since 2002, Wohlbach has run a national and international softball clinic called Fastpitch Performance. The camps and clinics have provided instruction for all levels of the game. They have taken her all over the world including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Belgium and Australia. Her international reputation has garnered her many contacts and recognition from both amateur and professional organizations and sponsors.
Wohlbach's coaching and instructing experience came during the off season of her extensive international playing career. Her professional resume in the United States began after graduating from Kutztown University in 2000. She signed with the Tampa Bay FireStix in the former Women's Professional Softball League for the 2001 season. Wohlbach moved on to the National Pro Fastpitch League where she was selected in the fourth round of the December 2003 draft by the California Sunbirds, a team located in Sacramento, CA. She played for the independent league Nebraska Comets before returning to the NPF's Philadelphia Force for the 2006 season.
While playing professionally in the U.S., Wohlbach also played for and coached several professional teams in Europe. She has excelled at the international level throughout the world, including tours in the Czech Republic and a stop in Great Britain. In 2004 and 2005 she played professionally in New Zealand and on a world all-star select team, which included players from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Africa and the USA. Earlier in 2004, Wohlbach played for the Great Britain National Team in Athens as a test run to the 2004 Athens Olympics; winning a gold medal by defeating Russia, the Czech Republic and Greece.
From 2001-2004, Wohlbach coached an 18-under USA All-Star team in Australia as a follow-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also played professionally in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Greece, and coached a youth all-star team in Italy.
Wohlbach was a four-year varsity standout as a collegiate athlete at Kutztown. The three-time team captain became the first graduate of her school to play a professional sport. She earned All-PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) honors as a catcher during her junior and senior campaigns as well as being named to the All-Region Team in 2000. She was the team's MVP in 1999 as well as a nominee for her school's Female Athlete of the Year.
She earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Kutztown in 2000 and a Masters in Educations in Student Affairs of Higher Education in 2002.
