Coolens To Step Down From Coaching Grace Softball
May 10, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Co-head coaches Bo Coolen and Sam Coolen have decided to step down from leading Grace’s softball team.
The Coolens will pursue new opportunities closer to family in California, resigning after a three-year tenure at the helm of the Lancers.
“We want to thank Dr. Drew Flamm and Coach Briscoe for giving us the opportunity to lead the softball program at Grace. It has truly been a dream come true to coach at Grace for the last three years,” said Bo Coolen. “This has been one of the hardest decisions because of how much Grace means to us. Over the last three years, we have seen tremendous growth in the program through hard work and dedication from all of those who have worn the Lancer Softball jersey. We look forward to seeing how the Lord leads Grace softball moving forward.”
The married couple came to Winona Lake in the summer of 2021 and coached Grace for the past three years. They saw continued improvement from the Lancers; Grace won its most games this spring since 2017.
“My family and I are forever grateful for our time at Grace College. The past three years here have been so special. The young women that we were able to coach will forever hold a special place in my heart. I know the Lord is going to do amazing things through each one of them,” said Sam Coolen. “This was our decision and while it was a difficult one, it is what we felt was best for our family. I am confident in saying that we have left this program better than we found it, and the future is extremely bright for Grace Softball.”
A national search will begin immediately for Grace’s next softball head coach. Interested candidates should email A.D. Chad Briscoe at [email protected].
“We are very thankful for the dedication that Bo and Sam poured into our softball program for the past three years,” said Grace’s Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “We are thankful for how the Lord has blessed our softball program under the Coolens’ leadership, and we understand and respect their desire to move closer to family. We wish nothing but the best in the future for Bo, Sam and Colt!”
Grace Wins Three Events During Full Day At NCCAAs
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Grace’s track and field team collected an armful of hardware on the first full day of the 2024 NCCAA National Championships.
The Lancers claimed three national championships in three separate events and collected a handful of All-American honors on Thursday.
Grace’s men and women both ended the day in the top-two on the leaderboard. The women lead all competitors by a slim margin with 39 points, four more than Greenville in second. The men are second with 31 points; Campbellsville leads the men currently with 71 points.
The championships will end on Friday with nine finals in the field events and 22 running finals.
The women’s 4x800-meter relay team earned national title status. The crew of Madelyn Skidmore, Cassandra Cross, Cadence Manning and Addison Grady broke the tape in 10:02.53, beating the runner-up by five seconds.
Mackenzie Parker was the national champion in the discus, clearing 41.20 meters. Lanae Crowe grabbed third in the discus, earning All-American status in the process.
Josiah Thompson also claimed a national title, winning the javelin with a heave of 54.49 meters. Brock Lengacher (seventh place) and Clayton Martin (eighth) also scored for Grace in the javelin.
Lengacher had a busy day, finishing as the runner-up in the discus (43.63 meters) to garner All-American honors.
Cece Mitchell also earned All-American recognition in the 1,000 when she ran a third-place time of 39:26.95.
Makayla Neal completed the heptathlon on Thursday. She placed sixth with 3,452 points.
The men’s 4x800 placed fourth overall; Austin Wilson, Carson Martin, Luke Nier and Carter Clear finished their race in 8:05.25.
Grace had two runners earn points in the men’s 1,000. Ian Harrold placed sixth with a time of 33:29.33, and Hayden Mullett was one spot behind him at 33:45.58. Emily McCreary ended in fifth in the high jump.
During Thursday’s preliminaries, Emma Conrad (100 hurdles), Gracious O’Connor (200) and Mick Wright (100) each advanced to the final race on Friday.
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Co-head coaches Bo Coolen and Sam Coolen have decided to step down from leading Grace’s softball team.
The Coolens will pursue new opportunities closer to family in California, resigning after a three-year tenure at the helm of the Lancers.
“We want to thank Dr. Drew Flamm and Coach Briscoe for giving us the opportunity to lead the softball program at Grace. It has truly been a dream come true to coach at Grace for the last three years,” said Bo Coolen. “This has been one of the hardest decisions because of how much Grace means to us. Over the last three years, we have seen tremendous growth in the program through hard work and dedication from all of those who have worn the Lancer Softball jersey. We look forward to seeing how the Lord leads Grace softball moving forward.”
The married couple came to Winona Lake in the summer of 2021 and coached Grace for the past three years. They saw continued improvement from the Lancers; Grace won its most games this spring since 2017.
“My family and I are forever grateful for our time at Grace College. The past three years here have been so special. The young women that we were able to coach will forever hold a special place in my heart. I know the Lord is going to do amazing things through each one of them,” said Sam Coolen. “This was our decision and while it was a difficult one, it is what we felt was best for our family. I am confident in saying that we have left this program better than we found it, and the future is extremely bright for Grace Softball.”
A national search will begin immediately for Grace’s next softball head coach. Interested candidates should email A.D. Chad Briscoe at [email protected].
“We are very thankful for the dedication that Bo and Sam poured into our softball program for the past three years,” said Grace’s Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “We are thankful for how the Lord has blessed our softball program under the Coolens’ leadership, and we understand and respect their desire to move closer to family. We wish nothing but the best in the future for Bo, Sam and Colt!”
Grace Wins Three Events During Full Day At NCCAAs
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Grace’s track and field team collected an armful of hardware on the first full day of the 2024 NCCAA National Championships.
The Lancers claimed three national championships in three separate events and collected a handful of All-American honors on Thursday.
Grace’s men and women both ended the day in the top-two on the leaderboard. The women lead all competitors by a slim margin with 39 points, four more than Greenville in second. The men are second with 31 points; Campbellsville leads the men currently with 71 points.
The championships will end on Friday with nine finals in the field events and 22 running finals.
The women’s 4x800-meter relay team earned national title status. The crew of Madelyn Skidmore, Cassandra Cross, Cadence Manning and Addison Grady broke the tape in 10:02.53, beating the runner-up by five seconds.
Mackenzie Parker was the national champion in the discus, clearing 41.20 meters. Lanae Crowe grabbed third in the discus, earning All-American status in the process.
Josiah Thompson also claimed a national title, winning the javelin with a heave of 54.49 meters. Brock Lengacher (seventh place) and Clayton Martin (eighth) also scored for Grace in the javelin.
Lengacher had a busy day, finishing as the runner-up in the discus (43.63 meters) to garner All-American honors.
Cece Mitchell also earned All-American recognition in the 1,000 when she ran a third-place time of 39:26.95.
Makayla Neal completed the heptathlon on Thursday. She placed sixth with 3,452 points.
The men’s 4x800 placed fourth overall; Austin Wilson, Carson Martin, Luke Nier and Carter Clear finished their race in 8:05.25.
Grace had two runners earn points in the men’s 1,000. Ian Harrold placed sixth with a time of 33:29.33, and Hayden Mullett was one spot behind him at 33:45.58. Emily McCreary ended in fifth in the high jump.
During Thursday’s preliminaries, Emma Conrad (100 hurdles), Gracious O’Connor (200) and Mick Wright (100) each advanced to the final race on Friday.