Mankato East and Minnesota State grad Coley Ries Welter has been hired as the first head coach for Mankato Softball, which begins play in June in the inaugural Northwoods League season.
Ries Welter has been the head coach at Gustavus Adolphus since 2020.
Ries was an all-state pitcher for the Cougars, and she led Minnesota State to a national championship in 2017. She was named the Division II player of the year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2017 after posting a 41-3 record. Ries holds Mavericks’ career records with 119 wins, 1,481 strikeouts and 999.1 innings pitched.
Ries then played four professional seasons in the National Pro Fastpitch league with the Chicago and Aussie Peppers. She played one season in a professional league called Athletes Unlimited.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome (Ries Welter) to our Mankato Softball family,” said general manager Caleb Chapman in a press release. “Her proven track record as both a player and a coach, coupled with her commitment to education, makes her the perfect fit for our program. We believe her expertise will elevate our team to new heights, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our players.”