Glixman Named Griffins Head Coach
Fontbonne University Director of Athletics has announced that the softball head coaching position will now be full-time.
"Replacing someone like Head Coach Bill Rosner is not an easy task," comments Eftink. "Coach Rosner, his staff, and past teams have built Fontbonne Softball into what it is today. We want to see this program built on WE continue to excel in the future. Therefore, I am happy to announce that the next head coach for Fontbonne Softball comes from within the Fontbonne Family and has been a dominate member of WE. All-American graduate Danni Glixman will take over the reins of Fontbonne Softball."
Glixman was a graduate assistant with the program this past year, assisting in all phases of individual development. "I am very excited to embrace this opportunity and follow in the footsteps of two of the best coaches in Division III softball," claims Glixman. Bill Rosner and Mike Akers built a winning tradition at Fontbonne and the new coaching staff that we have put together will have big shoes to fill, but I'm confident in our abilities to step up to the challenge. Our coaching staff is filled with playing and coaching experience that is very familiar with the WE philosophy and tradition and we would like to thank Director of Athletics Maria Eftink, Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Deighton and President Dr. Mike Pressimone for this opportunity."
"Coach Glixman has not only played for Coach Rosner, cemented her name in the Fontbonne record books, and served as an assistant coach this season but she brings the level of passion and commitment to WE that we need in our next head coach," says Eftink. "I know Coach Glixman will give everything she has to make sure what has been built will only continue to flourish and make Fontbonne, the alumni, as well as current and future Fontbonne softball players proud to call her their leader."
More familiar faces will be joining or staying on staff next season, including newly named associate head coach Colleen Bryan and previous associate head coach Mike Akers. Those highlights can be found below Glixman's honors.
Glixman will no doubt be a SLIAC Hall of Fame contender. The St. Louis native was a 2013 NFCA Third Team All-American, four-time Jewish Sports Review All-American, four-time SLIAC First Team All-Conference player, four-time NFCA Midwest All-Region player, SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, twice named to a Regional Tournament team, and named to Fontbonne's Dean's list and SLIAC All-Academic teams. She was also a member of the 2012 team that garnered first place in NCAA Division III in cumulative grade point average and advanced to the NCAA National Tournament each season.
Glixman's career stats include the majority of Fontbonne's hitting records as well as several notations in the NCAA Division III Softball Record Book. During her tenure at Fontbonne, Glixman was part of a team-record 22-game win streak in 2015, 36 SLIAC regular-season win streak, two conference shutout seasons and 18 shutout games her senior year. At the plate, Glixman holds a 27 consecutive-game hit streak (ninth most in D3 history), nine consecutive hits her senior year and eight consecutive hits her junior season (fourth and fifth most in D3 history respectively). She also hit two consecutive home runs her sophomore season and she has four of the top-five single-season most hits record.
Career records:
batting average: .458, slugging percentage: .737, doubles: 68 (third most in NCAA D3 history), hits: 232, 60 her senior season, RBI's: 172, Record: 125-41
SLIAC Record: 64-2, four-time SLIAC Conference & Tournament Champion
Single-Season records:
batting average: .488, slugging percentage: .810, most hits: 60, most doubles: 20
Colleen Bryan - associate head coach
Bryan, who will assume the role of associate head coach is no stranger to Fontbonne softball. She gained collegiate coaching experience at Fontbonne in the 2013 and 2014 seasons behind Rosner and Akers. Bryan understands Fontbonne softball traditions and philosophy and is the perfect addition to this coaching staff. She will work with the pitchers, catchers, and help run the day-to-day operations. Bryan was an outfielder and first baseman at Millikin University from 2009-2012 andd has since gained coaching experience with the St. Louis Illusion's Fastpitch club. In college, Bryan totaled 22 doubles, 13 home runs and averaged .348 in her career.
Marissa Simon - assistant coach
Simon garnered All-American honorable mention status her freshman year as a shortstop at Fontbonne. She was the 2011 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, 2013 SLIAC Player of the Year and four-time SLIAC All-Conference honoree. She was also selected to the NFCA's first-team and second-team Midwest All-Region teams. Marissa took her expertise into coaching and began coaching high school softball and baseball at Oakville high school. She also coaches a 16U summer select softball team and Marissa will primarily work with the middle infielders and bring energy to practices and games. College records and notable statistics: most at-bats in a season (159), most runs in a season (49), 59 hits her junior season (one short of Glixman's record), 57 hits and 16 doubles her senior year and five triples her freshman season. She has a .388 career batting average and totaled 16 home runs from 2011-2014.
Sarah Cerutti - assistant coach
Cerutti also played at Fontbonne in the 2011-2014 seasons. She is a two-time NFCA second-team All-Midwest Region selection and three-time first-team SLIAC All-Conference honoree. Cerutti holds Fontbonne's all-time record for most home runs in a season (12) and career (31) as well as these notable statistics: .335 average, second highest career slugging percentage (.649), 126 runs scored, 114 RBI's, second-most career walks (58) and 23 doubles. She coaches a 10U select softball team with Simon and will primarily work with the outfielders at Fontbonne and bring a ton of on-the-field experience and understanding.
Mike Lewis - volunteer assistant coach
In addition, we will have several volunteer coaches that will bring more knowledge and experience to the coaching staff. Mike Lewis, who was a volunteer coach for the 2016 season will be back to assist this year.
Cassi Glixman - volunteer assistant coach
Joining the staff will be Cassi Glixman will also be volunteering time to work with the corner infielders and hitters. Cassi is only the second player in the history of the SLIAC to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back years. She earned NFCA All-American status her senior season, was a four-time Midwest All-Region selection, a four-time first-team SLIAC All-Conference honoree, four-time Jewish Sports Review All-American and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-American. The first baseman played at Fontbonne from 2012-2015 and couldn't be more excited and ready to come back to WE. She holds two Fontbonne records (170 career runs scored and 60 hits in a season) and multiple notable career statistics: six consecutive hits in 2014, career .424 batting average and .643 slugging percentage, 227 carere hits, 169 RBI's (second all-time), 59 doubles (second all-time), 51 walks and 16 career home runs.
Rosner and Akers are not fully ready to leave WE and will continue to provide knowledge and experience to the program. Akers will continue to work with outfielders and hitters and will be the familiar face in the dugout.
Final comments from Glixman, "As a coaching staff, we are excited to continue the traditions and philosophy of WE and are thankful for this opportunity to begin the next chapter that is Fontbonne softball."
