Clarke University Softball
2012 Softball Coaches
Jaclyn Salzwedel Image
COACH PROFILE
Jaclyn Salzwedel - Head Coach - 2nd Season
Jaclyn Salzwedel is in her second season as head softball coach at Clarke University.
 
Salzwedel's 2011 squad finished the season with an impressive run. The Crusaders swept through MCC Tournament opening round action with one-run victories over Ashford and William Penn (twice) to earn a spot in MCC Final Four, where the season ended with a third-place showing. Clarke finished 18-26 overall and 7-15 in MCC play.
 
A native of Wyoming, Mich., Salzwedel previously served as associate head varsity softball coach at Rogers High School in her hometown.
 
From 2007 to 2009, Salzwedel was a grad assistant softball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Plattville. She was also the the program's main assistant as well as the hitting specialist for the Pioneers' 2008 team that led the NCAA Division III in home runs per game.
 

Prior to her stint at UW-Platteville, Salzwedel was the assistant softball coach at Grand Rapids Community College and was the head varsity softball coach at Union High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Salzwedel played collegiate softball at Grand Rapids Community College and at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. The four-year starter earned honorable mention all-region and all-conference honors at Grand Rapids, and was a member of the NAIA All-Region Tournament Team and an NAIA National Tournament participant at Aquinas.

Salzwedel received her associate of arts degree from Grand Rapids Community College, her bachelor of arts degree from Aquinas College, and her master of science in education degree from UW-Platteville.


Mark Rako Image
COACH PROFILE
Mark Rako - Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach - 2nd Season

Mark "Vinnie" Rako is in his second season as assistant coach/pitching coach at Clarke University.

Rako brings extensive softball coaching experience having served as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the early-90s and from 1998 to 2007. He also works with individual pitchers in helping them develop their skills.

Rako is an accomplished fast-pitch softball pitcher as a standout on many tri-state area teams. He began his playing career at the age of 14 and continues to compete at tournaments and as a member of several teams. Over the past 38 years, Rako has played with and against some of the top players in the nation.

Shoulder problems in the 1990s forced him off the mound until rotator cuff surgery in 2000 at age 42 allowed him to pitch again. Since then, he's compiled a record of 418-128 and since 2001, he's posted seven perfect games and 10 no-hitters. He went 62-14 in 2004, 62-18 with 770 strikeouts in 2007 and 48-13 in 2008.

Rako has played in many national tournaments, including the North American Fast-pitch Association (NAFA) tournament and the International Softball Congress (ISC) world tournament in 2008 at age 50. He was named to the Over-45 ASA National All-Star team in 2004 and 2006.


COACH PROFILE
Bridgette Clark - Assistant Coach - 1st Season

COACH PROFILE
Sam Johnson - Assistant Coach - 1st Season