NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College softball head coach
Alyssa Tiumalu announced the addition of assistant coach Aaron Ballmer, completing the coaching staff for the upcoming 2022 season.
BALLMER JOINS STAFF
Ballmer joins the Iona staff as an assistant coach after a one-year stop at Chadron State College. Ballmer's duties included instructing the team on proper outfield, hitting and pitching mechanics alongside the head coach. In his lone season with the program, the Eagles finished 13-27 overall with a 13-23 league record.
Prior to his time at Chadron State, Ballmer worked as a seasonal video operations assistant for the Detroit Tigers prior to the suspension of the Major League Baseball season. Ballmer brings experience at the collegiate level, working as a graduate assistant in two different areas of specialization at Franklin Pierce University.
He began as a recruiting coordinator and instructor for the Franklin Pierce softball program, before transitioning to the school's strength and conditioning graduate assistant position. Before his time at FPU, Ballmer worked at Brown University as a strength and conditioning intern.
Ballmer graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sport Studies from St. Bonaventure University in 2015. He was a member of the Bonnies' baseball team as a pitcher for four seasons. Ballmer eventually earned an MBA in Sports Management during his time at Franklin Pierce.
THE RETURN OF REA
The completion of Iona's coaching staff for the upcoming season is rounded out by the return of assistant coach Darren Rea. He will enter his fourth season on the bench with Iona in 2022.
Rea works directly with Iona's pitching staff, and in his first season with the program in 2019, his group ranked inside the top-five of the league in multiple categories. Iona's strikeout totals as a staff that season were tied for sixth most in program history and the Gaels' 2.54 ERA was the eighth-best mark in program history.
OUTLOOK FOR 2022
Iona returns 16 players from last year's squad, including the MAAC Player of the Year Jessica Chilcott, the MAAC Pitcher of the Year Kara Zazzaro and the MAAC Rookie of the Year Jamie Sheeran. Three freshmen: Brianna Bailey, Maddy Lowry and Destiney Nardello join the Maroon & Gold as well. The program will look to continue to build off of its success in 2022 under the tutelage of first-year head coach Alyssa Tiumalu.
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