WAVERLY, Iowa—Leigh Ann LaFave has been named the new head softball coach at Wartburg College, Athletic Director, Rick Willis, announced today.
"Leigh Ann was an outstanding student-athlete at Alma College and has transformed the program at Bethany Lutheran College in her five years as head coach,” stated Willis. “She will be a great role model and representative of Wartburg College. Her combination of experiences are unique as she understands the expectations and challenges at both a nationally competitive program and a rebuilding program. This background will be especially helpful and important as she leads the Wartburg softball program forward."
LaFave (pronounced Lah-fave) comes to Wartburg from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn. where she has served as the head coach for the past five seasons. She took a program that transitioned to NCAA Division III athletics and helped them achieve a third-place finish in the 2011 conference standings, which was the highest conference finish in school history. The Vikings also tallied back-to-back winning records in conference play in 2010 and 2011. LaFave previously served as the assistant coach in 2006 before assuming the head coach position.
LaFave was a standout student-athlete in softball at Alma College in Alma, Mich. She was a four-year pitcher for the softball team that made two College World Series appearances in 2004 and 2005. The Scots also made four consecutive appearances at the NCAA regionals and won a string of four MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) conference titles. The softball team had a record of 132-36 during her time in a Scots uniform.
She was a four-time First-team All-Conference Player in addition to being selected as a three-time All-Region player. LaFave received team MVP and MIAA MVP (pitcher) honors twice.
She still ranks as the all-time conference leader with her .38 ERA in 182 innings pitched against conference opponents. Lafave also ranks as the all-time leader in ERA, strikeouts and shutouts and is second in complete games, innings pitched and wins in Alma’s career record book.
She also was named an NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Third-team All-American in her junior year, a Second-team NFCA Scholar-Athlete in 2004 and was a 2005 nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
“I am very excited to join the community and coaching staff at Wartburg College,” said LaFave. “As head softball coach, I will foster an environment where the players will not only master the fundamentals of the game, but learn to respect the game, themselves and their opponents. So many life lessons can be learned on the softball field such as overcoming adversity, building character, forming trust and lasting relationships, and developing confidence in oneself. I look forward to this opportunity and the challenges it presents and consider myself fortunate to be able to assist the players at Wartburg in learning and growing as a person through the game of softball.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Alma College, her master’s in sports administration from Minnesota State-Mankato and her master’s of business administration from Ellis University.
