Macalester College has named Jody Gabriel as its new head softball coach. Gabriel has been the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls the past four years.

Coach Gabriel led UW-River Falls to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular-season (13-3) and playoff (4-0) championships this past spring as the Falcons finished with a 28-15 overall record and a four-game appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs. UWRF went 108-60 during her four seasons leading the program and never had a losing record in the competitive WIAC.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to join the Macalester community and to lead a softball program with such amazing student-athletes,” said Coach Gabriel.

“My passion for working with young women on and off the field to develop their softball, leadership and life skills can truly be embraced with this opportunity at Mac. I look forward to getting to know the Macalester community, the Athletic Department and especially the members of the Macalester softball team. “

She was selected 2011 WIAC Coach of the Year and her staff was named 2011 Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Wisconsin-River Falls was ranked No. 19 in the final national poll and went undefeated at home with a 14-0 record.

Gabriel was interim head coach at UWRF while teaching full-time in the Hudson (Wis.) school district as a secondary social science instructor. She will leave her teaching assignment to work full time at Macalester.

Gabriel was an assistant coach with the Falcons for five seasons before becoming head coach. She also coached as an assistant for two years at St. Mary's University of Minnesota, where the Cardinals were co-MIAC champions in 2001 and placed second in 2002. She has also coached for various teams at the high school and traveling levels in the Twin Cities.

Gabriel played with UWRF from 1994-96. The 1994 team won the WIAC title and competed in the NCAA Division III playoffs. She earned her undergraduate degree from UWRF in accounting in 1996 and her M.S.E. degree (social studies) from UWRF in 2000. She is married to Barry Gabriel and they have a daughter, Sydney, seven, and a son, Caden, four. They reside in Hudson.

“Jody is a fantastic addition to our staff and I have the utmost confidence that our softball program will thrive with her leadership and experience,” Macalester Director of Athletics Kim Chandler said. “She's a proven winner in everything that she has been part of – from the classroom to the softball field – and has made a positive impact on the students and student-athletes that she has had the opportunity to work with. “