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Thees Adds Former Wichita State Head Coach To Rebel Staff
OMAMR
OXFORD,
Miss. – Mike Perniciaro, a former head coach at Wichita State and
an assistant at Auburn and Georgia, is joining the Ole Miss softball
program as an assistant coach, head coach Windy Thees announced on
Wednesday.
Perniciaro comes to Oxford after serving the last six seasons as the
head coach at Wichita State. Before taking over the Shocker program,
Perniciaro was head coach at Northwestern State for one year after
serving as an assistant for six seasons at Auburn and two years at
Georgia. In Oxford, he will work primarily with the Rebel outfielders
and hitters, while assisting with recruiting and camps.
“I am excited to bring Mike’s experience to our
staff,” said Thees. “He brings head coaching experience as
well as eight years of experience coaching in the SEC. I have known
Mike for more than 12 years and respect all aspects of his coaching. He
is a great recruiter and will help tremendously with our hitters and
outfielders.
Perniciaro, who took over as head coach in 2006, led the Shockers to
five Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearances in his six-year
tenure, including a second-place finish in 2006. He posted a 168-179
career at Wichita State and coached 13 players to All-MVC honors.
At Wichita, Perniciaro tutored Ashly Bright, who set the MVC
single-season strikeout record with 366 K’s in 2010, and Ashley
Lynn, who became the school’s career leader in home runs, RBI and
total bases. His guidance also helped former Shockers Britnee Barnett
and Katie McGeeney earn four-straight all-conference first or second
team honors during their careers.
His teams also excelled in the classroom, as Wichita players earned
four CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in his time as head coach
while earning six academic all-conference accolades as well.
Perniciaro served as head coach at Northwestern State during the 2005
season, as the Lady Demons hit .295 as a team en route to a 35-28
record. The squad also hit 49 home runs and scored 4.7 runs per game,
while also breaking several offensive records. Five players from that
team received all-Southland Conference honors and three players were
named to the SLC All-Academic Team, the most of any Southland
Conference school.
Prior to his time at Northwestern State, Perniciaro spent six seasons
as assistant coach and hitting coach at Auburn. While at Auburn,
Perniciaro helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever top-25 ranking
and appearances in the 2002 and 2004 NCAA Tournament. During his tenure
with the Tigers, Auburn ranked near the top of the SEC in home runs and
doubles and led the conference in home runs in 2001 and 2002. In
addition to responsibilities with the hitters, Perniciaro also had
duties coaching the outfielders, as well as serving as the
program’s recruiting coordinator. He was also a member of the
2002 SEC Coaching Staff of the Year that was also honored by the NFCA
as the South Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Before his six seasons at Auburn, Perniciaro served for two years as an
assistant coach at Georgia. He helped guide the Bulldogs to their first
winning season in 1998, and also served as recruiting coordinal.
Perniciaro also worked as an assistant coach at Centenary from 1995-97
where he coached the outfielders and assisted with hitting instruction
and also oversaw the weight and conditioning program.
Perniciaro graduated with a B.S. in exercise physiology from the
University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1993. He also received his
master’s degree in sport management from Western Illinois in
1995. The St. Louis, Mo., native is also a member of the National
Fastpitch Coaches Association.
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