Athletics fills empty positions over the summer

August 26, 2009
By Luke Runyon
Editor-in-chief

Several new coaches start their positions in the rapidly growing Athletics Department this fall. Administrators filled coaching positions in men’s baseball, women’s basketball, tennis, softball and volleyball over the summer term.

UIS’ tapped Brian Grunzke as its first men’s baseball coach on August 21. Grunzke worked as assistant baseball coach for University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls before coming to Springfield. “While Brian owns a wealth of baseball experience, he also brings a maturity to the position that will be beneficial in helping this program grow from the ground up,” UIS Athletic Director Dr. Rodger Jehlicka said. “We are thrilled that someone of the caliber and character of Brian is joining the Prairie Star athletic family.”

Mat Mundell is the new head softball coach at UIS. Mundell spent the past season as the interim coach. “Mat is also very familiar with the UIS community and is working extremely hard to keep our softball program on the upward plane as we move into NCAA Division II,” said athletic director Rodger Jehlicka.

Frank Marsaglia, assistant golf coach at Virden High School in Virden, Ill., is the new men’s golf coach. “Frank has a strong background in golf and we are very happy to have him on our staff.

As a player, he carries a 1 handicap and has coached for several years at Virden High School,” said UIS athletic director Rodger Jehlicka, adding, “Frank is well known in the golfing community in Central Illinois thus has the contacts to help our men’s golf program grow into a viable and competitive NCAA Division II sport.”

Marne Fauser is the new head women’s basketball coach at UIS. Fauser comes to UIS after spending the past season as member of the women’s basketball coaching staff at Bradley. Before joining the Braves’ s t a f f , F a u s e r spent the previous eight seasons as assistant coach at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. Fauser served as recruiting coordinator and a camp director at Truman.

While coaching in Kirksville, Fauser helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of victories against nationally-ranked teams and coached three post players to first-team all-conference honors. Administrators named Crystal Reed as Fasuer’s assistant coach.

Coming from Birmingham- Southern College, Reed assisted with the school’s volleyball team and mentored players