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UIC

Posted by Parent on May 28, 2025, 10:59 am

Has UIC hired a full-time Head Coach? Seems like they've been looking forever.

Re: UIC

Posted by New Coach on May 28, 2025, 11:11 am, in reply to "UIC"

Yes... and she's outstanding. Great get!

Re: UIC

Posted by Flint on May 28, 2025, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Jill Harvey.

Re: UIC

Posted by @Flint on June 5, 2025, 9:24 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Re: UIC

Posted by @flint on May 29, 2025, 9:10 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I think they were looking for a coach with college experience playing or coaching

Re: UIC

Posted by Nope on May 28, 2025, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Fake news. Release coming soon though!

Re: UIC

Posted by @Nope on May 28, 2025, 3:49 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

If you know, you know. Let us know.

Re: UIC

Posted by @@Nope on May 28, 2025, 3:56 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

All the Illinois State Assistants left and the Pitching Coach was a star at UIC. I could see her getting the job, would be a great decision if they did.

Re: UIC

Posted by @New on May 28, 2025, 12:27 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Who is it? Did they make the interim full-time?

I can't find it in their news.

Re: UIC

Posted by MC on May 28, 2025, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

The Bowman coaching tree yields its first D1 coach

Re: UIC

Posted by @MC on June 2, 2025, 9:36 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Clever intials, looks like you were right.

Re: UIC

Posted by @MC on May 29, 2025, 9:31 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I think you're playing with us, you don't know, just throwing random thoughts out.

Re: UIC

Posted by Ha! on May 29, 2025, 9:30 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

The Bowman Coaching tree? Purchasing coaches within a cash cow system does not mean there is a coaching tree ala Cooch Walsh or Shula. Cheetahs have the benefit of the best facility around, UIC does not.

Re: UIC

Posted by @MC on May 29, 2025, 7:34 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I'm not sure who Bowman is.

Re: UIC

Posted by Czar on May 29, 2025, 8:18 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Bowman is The Czar of the Cheetahs

Re: UIC

Posted by Commit comparisons on May 29, 2025, 9:51 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Let's use some data. Based on their websites:

Bandits:25 D1 commits in 2026 class.
IMG: 25 D1 commits in 2026 class.
Chill: 8 D1 commits in 2026 class.
Cheetahs: 6 D1 commits in 2026 class.
Sparks: 4 D1 commits in 2026 class.
IP: Not available.

You could do a comparison of commits compared to number of players/teams, but at least this is data.

Re: UIC

Posted by @ Comparisons on May 30, 2025, 9:02 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Why Is D-1 always the end all B all? There is no pro softball (at least legit money wise) to shoot for. Getting into college and using softball to help you get in is the goal! If a D-2 or below school is what your daughter wants due to size or education specialties or overall feel, and the school will pay, go there! The comparisons above is wrong! How about comparing how many of the girls are committed to play in college at each program!

Re: UIC

Posted by @@Comparison on May 30, 2025, 10:53 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Because, from a softball perspective, DI is the absolute highest level of competition, nothing else is even close. Nobody is saying that DII isn't the best choice for some student-athletes, but don't even try to pretend it's even close in softball. DI is comprised of the best players competing at the highest level of softball. Are there outlier players at lower levels who are tremendous players? Yes, and no. You'll never know because they chose not to compete at the highest level. This isn't a college experience board; it's a softball board.

Re: UIC

Posted by @UIC on May 30, 2025, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

From what I've seen there is not a big difference between D2 and mid major D1 talent. I've seen a lot of players in D2 that could easily have gone D1 and D1 players that I sometimes shake my head and ask, how did I get here?

P4 is definitely a step above and more polished.

Re: UIC

Posted by @@UIC on May 31, 2025, 8:10 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

From what you've seen? When do DI and DII cross paths, where does anyone see enough games to make a statement like that? My kids were both on DI teams, and I doubt I ever even walked past a DII game; it never happens. Not by choice, it's a scheduling thing. You've either seen DI or DII ball play.

What I do know is that, based on my Experience in Travel and high school, the players I watched who took DI offers were distinctly more skilled than the DII players, period.

Again, are there outliers? Absolutely, but a minimum of 90% of the DI players are better than DII players. Name a DII player that gets picked up in the portal by a P4. Could it happen, maybe.

Re: UIC

Posted by not that different on June 2, 2025, 7:18 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

You're making it seem like there is a HUGE difference with D1 players and everyone else. There isn't as much as you're making it out to be. Every weekend in high end travel ball, there are multiple great teams at the big tournaments with mixtures of D1, D2, D3 , NAIA, and probably some JUCO players in there, and many times you would never know the difference. I see D3 players taking D1 pitchers yard, and stealing off of D1 catchers. Granted there are many D1 players who really have no business playing D1, but there's not as big of a difference that you are making it out to be. P4 obviously usually stand out a bit more, but many of these players look pretty similar. The biggest difference with all of the levels is with pitching. you can see it in the WCWS right now. Pitching is everything.

Re: UIC

Posted by @Not That Different on June 3, 2025, 7:41 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Apparently, DI Coaches can tell the difference when they spend money to get the kid. The difference is incremental; they're more consistent, reads on the ball are better, and they have a quicker first step, often two steps quicker down the line, etc.

You can be as butt hurt as you want about no DI offers but for the most part you're wrong.

Re: UIC

Posted by @UIC on May 31, 2025, 10:27 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

When do DI and DII cross paths?

Every fall I see D1 and D2 scrimmage against each other.

Re: UIC

Posted by @@UIC on June 1, 2025, 7:52 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Child please. We're talking about fall ball? Did you're overlooked offspring go 1-3 against redshirt-level pitching? Do they even keep score in fall ball? They're certainly not posted anywhere.

Re: UIC

Posted by Okay Coach on June 1, 2025, 10:52 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I thought a coach would know this. You know, like how to use a flex.

Re: UIC

Posted by @@ Comparisons on May 30, 2025, 11:14 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

and that mentality is why so many of these D-1 players come out with a nothing degree and end up selling for NCSA or working at a brewery...go to the best school which will help you get your best future

Re: UIC

Posted by @@@Comparisons on May 30, 2025, 12:12 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Do you even know a DI player? Plenty of DII or DIII students come out with a BA in Medieval Croatian Literature and never make over $37k annually. Talk about a subject you know something about.

Re: UIC

Posted by @Commit on May 29, 2025, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Iowa Premier has to have a ton, too. You'd think they'd list them.

Re: UIC

Posted by Cheetahs on May 29, 2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

They have really come on strong recently
Some very high level commitments on all of the 18u teams and are very well coached across the board at 18u

Re: UIC

Posted by IN THE KNOW on May 29, 2025, 10:34 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

They are losing probably the best coach (Paul Malito) over there to the MOJO.

Re: UIC

Posted by Bo knows on May 29, 2025, 10:49 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Malito isn’t the best coach and Malitos team is maybe the 3rd best 18u team behind Connolly and Coronado

Re: UIC

Posted by KNOW IT ALL on May 29, 2025, 10:44 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

Thanks Jason

Re: UIC

Posted by @ KNOW IT ALL on May 30, 2025, 11:19 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I assure you I did not have anything to say about “ranked” 18U teams at the Cheetahs.
Many good players. Many good coaches. Many good teams.
And, to be fair, we aren’t really a part of the Cheetahs anymore, per se…or Bowman’s “coaching tree”!🤣

As far as the UIC job goes, I just hope they get someone in there who does a better job recruiting locally!
Recruiting California kids to UIC is quite a gamble.
You get the 17th or 18th best player from the Angels, SoCal A’s, or Batbusters who leave after the first Chicago winter.

- Coach Jason Mardirosian

Re: UIC

Posted by Pumping brakes on May 29, 2025, 10:43 am, in reply to "Re: UIC"

I realize this started as a post about the new UIC coach. Congratulations to her!

This has turned into a Cheetahs discussion somehow. Not sure how club affiliations relate to the success of a coach at the college level, but kudos to anyone who has stayed in the game long enough to make a career of it - regardless of what jersey you've worn!

(And... Malito is absolutely not the Cheetah's best coach. #ShotsFired)

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