The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Jimmy Kolaitis Named UAB Head Softball Coach
6/16/2018 9:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram announced on Saturday that Jimmy Kolaitis has been named the second permanent head coach in Blazer softball history.
Kolaitis arrives in Birmingham after five seasons at the University of Oregon as an assistant softball coach, recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. During that time, the Ducks compiled a 256-42-1 record, won four Pac-12 Conference Championships, finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2014, 2015 and 2018 and made three trips to the Women's College World Series.
"We are excited to announce the hiring of Jimmy Kolaitis as UAB's next head softball coach," Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "I would like to thank our entire search committee, with a special thanks to sport administrator Dan Carlson and our former head coach Marla Townsend, for finding an outstanding leader who will put this proud program in a position to compete for more championships."
Not only does Kolaitis bring a wealth of college experience to UAB, but he also brings a wealth of knowledge from the National Pro Fastpitch League, having worked with the Scrap Yard Dogs and the Chicago Bandits. As the pitching coach for the Scrap Yard Dogs in 2017, Kolaitis worked with Monica Abbott, who won Pitcher of the Year and broke the league record for strikeouts in a season. The Scrap Yard Dogs won the NPF Championship in 2017.
With the Chicago Bandits, he served as an assistant coach, working with the likes of Vicky Galindo, Abbott and several national team participants and two players from the Japan Olympic team.
"I am extremely humbled and excited to be the next head softball coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I would like to thank Mark Ingram and Dan Carlson for the opportunity and trust to run this program," Kolaitis said. "We are looking to build a championship culture based on strong core values. It's an honor to have the opportunity to continue to build off the foundation of this program."
Prior to working at Oregon and with the NPF, he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Alabama from 2008-13. Under his guidance, the Jaguars went 173-95-1 and won Sun Belt Championship in 2012 and 2013. The Jags advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2012, playing in the Tuscaloosa Regional and hosted an NCAA Regional as the 13th ranked team in the nation in 2013.
From 2004-08, Kolaitis was the Director of Operations at Troy as the Trojans won the Sun Belt Championship in 2006, advancing to the Tuscaloosa Regional and in 2007 when Troy went to the Oxford Regional.
Before arriving in Troy, Kolaitis was an assistant baseball coach at Lee Scott Academy from 2000-02 and helped guide the Warriors to the 2002 AISA State Championship. He was also an assistant coach for the Boys of Baseball Travel, a national travel team based out of Auburn, Ala. from 1999-2006. He coached many top prospects throughout the country, including 14 first round draft picks.
A graduate from Lee Scott Academy, Kolaitis earned an associate of arts degree in education in 2002 from Southwest Tennessee Community College and earned a bachelor's of science degree in business administration and marketing from Troy University in 2007.
Kolaitis arrives in Birmingham after five seasons at the University of Oregon as an assistant softball coach, recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. During that time, the Ducks compiled a 256-42-1 record, won four Pac-12 Conference Championships, finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2014, 2015 and 2018 and made three trips to the Women's College World Series.
"We are excited to announce the hiring of Jimmy Kolaitis as UAB's next head softball coach," Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "I would like to thank our entire search committee, with a special thanks to sport administrator Dan Carlson and our former head coach Marla Townsend, for finding an outstanding leader who will put this proud program in a position to compete for more championships."
Not only does Kolaitis bring a wealth of college experience to UAB, but he also brings a wealth of knowledge from the National Pro Fastpitch League, having worked with the Scrap Yard Dogs and the Chicago Bandits. As the pitching coach for the Scrap Yard Dogs in 2017, Kolaitis worked with Monica Abbott, who won Pitcher of the Year and broke the league record for strikeouts in a season. The Scrap Yard Dogs won the NPF Championship in 2017.
With the Chicago Bandits, he served as an assistant coach, working with the likes of Vicky Galindo, Abbott and several national team participants and two players from the Japan Olympic team.
"I am extremely humbled and excited to be the next head softball coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I would like to thank Mark Ingram and Dan Carlson for the opportunity and trust to run this program," Kolaitis said. "We are looking to build a championship culture based on strong core values. It's an honor to have the opportunity to continue to build off the foundation of this program."
Prior to working at Oregon and with the NPF, he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at South Alabama from 2008-13. Under his guidance, the Jaguars went 173-95-1 and won Sun Belt Championship in 2012 and 2013. The Jags advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2012, playing in the Tuscaloosa Regional and hosted an NCAA Regional as the 13th ranked team in the nation in 2013.
From 2004-08, Kolaitis was the Director of Operations at Troy as the Trojans won the Sun Belt Championship in 2006, advancing to the Tuscaloosa Regional and in 2007 when Troy went to the Oxford Regional.
Before arriving in Troy, Kolaitis was an assistant baseball coach at Lee Scott Academy from 2000-02 and helped guide the Warriors to the 2002 AISA State Championship. He was also an assistant coach for the Boys of Baseball Travel, a national travel team based out of Auburn, Ala. from 1999-2006. He coached many top prospects throughout the country, including 14 first round draft picks.
A graduate from Lee Scott Academy, Kolaitis earned an associate of arts degree in education in 2002 from Southwest Tennessee Community College and earned a bachelor's of science degree in business administration and marketing from Troy University in 2007.
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