Coaches

Jake Koolbeck
Head Coach

Coach Jake has been with the Kohawk softball program since 2015, serving as an assistant coach for seven seasons before being promoted prior to the 2023 season. Koolbeck and his staff made an immediate impact, leading Coe to its second-best finish at the NCAA Tournament, finishing third at the 2023 DIII National Championships in Marshall, Texas. The Kohawks won their opening two games against second-seeded Linfield and sixth-seeded Rowan before falling to eventual National Champion Trine. Coe was 39-11 during the year, recording the third-most wins in program history. In addition, Koolbeck’s team won the American Rivers Conference Championship regular season title with a mark of 13-3. In his first season as head coach. Seven Kohawks were named all-conference following the 2023 season while Koolbeck and his staff were named the A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year. Ellie Thurow added to the awards for Koolbeck’s team, earning a spot on the NFCA All-Region team. Following the conclusion of the season, Coach Koolbeck and his staff were named the NFCA Region IX Staff of the Year for the first time in Coe Softball history. Prior to taking over as the head coach at Coe, Koolbeck held numerous coaching positions at local-area high schools. From 2010-2017, Jake directed the Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School spring program and also served as a varsity assistant at Solon and Clear Creek Amana. In 2018, Koolbeck became the head coach at Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City, leading the Regals to a second-place finish at the Iowa High School State Tournament in 2018. Following his stint at Regina, Koolbeck was a varsity assistant for Kennedy High School where he helped the Cougars win the 2020 State Championship. Koolbeck served as the top assistant at Coe since 2017 before stepping into the head coaching position. Jake graduated from Coe College in 2017 with a degree in Physical Education and Fitness Development.

Skyler Stookey
Assistant Coach

Coe College Softball lead assistant coach Skyler Stookey is entering her first season at Coe. While Stookey is new to coaching staff she is a long time Kohawk having played her college ball at Coe. Stookey, a 2024 graduate, was a mainstay in the Kohawk lineup for the last five seasons.

Stookey, a Solon High School graduate, made an impact at Coe immediately hitting her first college home run in the only doubleheader that was played in the Covid cancelled 2020 season. She took off from there earning All-Region honors as a sophomore, being named to the WCWS All-Tournament team as a senior, and finishing second in the Coe record books with 34 career home runs.

Stookey spent three years coaching at Solon before taking on the head assistant role at Cedar Rapids Kennedy this past summer.

Arran Dall
Assistant/Pitching Coach

Kohawk assistant and pitching coach Arran (Weeces) Dall is entering her first year at Coe. Dall is part of a long line of excellent pitchers to take the circle for the Kohawks. A 2016 graduate, Dall is 8th in career strikeouts and was named All-Region her sophomore season.

Prior to returning to Coe, Dall served as a graduate assistant at Saint Louis University following graduation. Most recently Arran spent two years at Kirkwood Community College as their pitching coaching.

Keera Ball
Assistant/Infield Coach

Kohawk assistant and infield coach Keera Ball is entering her first year at Coe. Ball, a 2024 graduate, is another life long Kohawk having played her collegiate ball at Coe. A five year starter on the Kohawk infield, Ball was a Rawlings Gold Glove finalist in 2023.

Ball has coaching experience at her high school alma mater, Xavier High School, having been an assistant there for the past seasons. She works full-time as a teacher in the Alburnett School District.

Natalie Hansen
Assistant/Outfield Coach

Kohawk assistant and outfield coach Natalie Hansen is entering her first year at Coe. Hansen, a 2022 Coe graduate, roamed the Kohawk outfield during her playing career at Coe.

Hansen has kept herself around the game of softball working for the softball/baseball analytic company 643 charts providing data to programs across the country. She is an Iowa High School State Champion winning the 2017 4A State Championship at Winterset High School.