Bo and Sam Coolen are ready for their third years as the co-head coaches for Grace's softball program for the 2023-24 school year.
During their first seasons, the duo led the Lady Lancers to their most Crossroads League wins since 2017. Three members of Grace's team were named to the All-League Team and six earned Scholar-Athlete distinction. A highlight of Grace's season was an upset of No. 17 Marian on the final day of the regular season.
The Coolens have also led Grace to consecutive seasons with double-digit conference victories (2022, 2023); it's just the fifth time in program history to achieve that distinction.
The Coolens are migrating from Westcliff University, an NAIA school in Irvine, Calif. Bo served as the associate head coach for Westcliff’s baseball team, and Sam was the associate head coach for Westcliff softball.
“We are very excited for Bo and Sam to join our family at Grace. They have a desire to impact lives for Christ through their coaching while building a strong culture of excellence,” said Grace Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “Their extensive background and experience at the NAIA level will serve them well as they take over at Grace. We look forward to their leadership and impact both on and off the field as they lead the program.”
The duo boast a distinguished softball lineage. Sam graduated from Vanguard in 2019 where she enjoyed an accomplished playing career. She was a two-time NAIA All-American and a three-time All-Conference honoree. She was named the 2019 conference Player of the Year and was also Vanguard’s Female Athlete of the Year.
For her career, Sam batted .414 with 231 hits, 154 RBIs and 15 home runs. The catcher had a career slugging percentage of .597 and fielding percentage of .992.
Sam spent the past two seasons helping direct Westcliff in its inaugural seasons as a varsity program.
“My husband Bo and I are extremely honored to serve the softball program at Grace College. I want to thank Grace's administration and Chad Briscoe for giving us this opportunity,” Sam said. “We are excited to begin this new journey to Indiana, and we look forward to what God has in store for the softball program at Grace.”
The Coolens will assume guidance of the Lady Lancers, who compete in the Crossroads League. Grace just concluded its fourth full season at the renovated Coach Phil Dick Field.
