Green Bay Hires Softball & Men's Golf Coaches

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie announced the hiring of two head coaches on Thursday afternoon as Beth Spoehr was named coach of the softball team and Tim DeSormeau took the reins of the men's golf program.

Spoehr will be the fifth head coach in program history, taking over for Jean Rivett who retired earlier this season after leading the team to its second Horizon League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

“We are thrilled that Beth will be taking over the reins of our softball program,” Gillespie said. “Coming off a Horizon League championship season, we had a very competitive process with a great deal of interest in our program.

“From the very beginning of our conversations, Beth has had a clear vision and plan for taking our program to the next level. Her experience as a Division I player, her success in coaching both privately and at the international level, her connections for recruiting top talent and her educational background and passion for teaching and coaching  make Beth the perfect fit for leading our young women and our program.  We are excited for her to start at Green Bay.”

A native of Appleton and a standout player at Appleton East, Spoehr went on to play collegiately at the University of Maine where she earned All-Rookie America East honors and All-Academic America East accolades three times. Over four seasons, Spoehr posted a 3.77 ERA in 95 appearances with 54 starts, striking out 208 over 360.1 innings of work.

After exhausting four years of eligibility, Spoehr spent a summer in Enköping, Sweden where she served as a pitcher and coach for the Enköping Softball Club. She also had the opportunity to travel as a volunteer assistant coach for the Sweden National Team at the European Softball Championships in Prague.

Following the summer season, Spoehr returned to Maine where she served as an assistant for the softball program while completing her degree in Kinesiology and physical and health education.

"I am extremely honored and proud to be named the head softball coach at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay,” Spoehr said. “I want to thank the Director of Athletics, Mary Ellen Gillespie, and the rest of the Phoenix athletic department for providing me with this excellent opportunity and believing in my vision for continuing to build upon the success of this team. I cannot wait to get started and begin making my mark on this rising Phoenix softball program."

Spoehr is no stranger to the Green Bay softball program, as she has assisted at the team’s annual winter pitching clinics. She also has ties to the local softball community, working as a pitching coach for area athletes in addition to working with the Menasha Blue Jays and Appleton Rockers softball organizations.

The Phoenix is coming off a season that saw it capture its second-ever Horizon League Tournament Championship and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearance. The team finished with an overall record of 27-14, tying for the most single-season wins in program history. Rivett was named the conference Coach of the Year, while eight players received all-league nods.

Currently the owner and Director of Instruction at the Tim DeSormeau Golf Academy at Royal St. Patrick’s Golf Links, DeSormeau worked previously from 1998-2012 as both the Director of Golf (1998-2008) and Director of Operations (2008-12) at Green Bay Country Club.

“Tim is a great fit for our program,” Gillespie said. “He is an excellent teacher of the game and a strong role model for our young men. His credibility and connections in the community will enhance our recruiting efforts. Tim will take our program to the next level and provide a great experience for our student-athletes. We are excited to welcome him to the Phoenix family.”

Before moving to Northeast Wisconsin, DeSormeau worked as the Director of Golf at Dakota Dunes Country Club in South Dakota. During his time at Dakota Dunes, he served as the head men’s golf coach at Briar Cliff College from 1993-97.

"I am excited to be joining the Phoenix coaching family and look forward to continuing to build on the success of the men's golf team in both the classroom and in competition,” DeSormeau said. “We have an excellent group of returning players, and I look forward to helping them achieve success in their college career."

(Release courtesy of Green Bay Athletics)