The Mohawk Mountaineers are proud to announce its 2023-24 women's softball coaching staff. Collectively, the new staff combines for more than 100 years of coaching experience.
Taking the reigns as Head Coach is former men's senior and intermediate pitcher and long-time pitching coach Chris McColl. Since 2003, McColl has been a constant in the softball community, helping coach numerous athletes who have gone to continue their softball careers at the post-secondary level across North America.
Joining McColl's staff as assistant coaches are former Mountaineers coach Mike Smuk, storied softball coach Alan Spohn and OCAA softball legend Jim Nemish.
Along with more than a century of coaching experience, the new Mohawk staff has combined for over 25 provincial and national championships across numerous softball leagues.
"Collectively, we as coaches are excited to get the opportunity to work with the Mountaineers softball program," said McColl. "Our goal is to establish a relationship with the current student-athletes to build a championship calibre team that will compete both provincially and nationally."
A retired Peel police officer, McColl has coaching experience with the Toronto Fastpitch Club and Brampton Girls Softball Association (BGSA) where he was a pitching instructor. He also spent time as an assistant coach for the BGSA junior women's team for four seasons, winning a national championship in 2004.
In addition to his extensive coaching resume, McColl has also had a long and successful playing career on the diamond, and is a well-respected athlete and competitor within the men's game.
Smuk, Lead Assistant Coach, rejoins the Mountaineers staff after previously spending 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the softball program, most recently under former head coach Todd Bannister. Smuk was on the staff that last led Mohawk to an OCAA medal in 2017, and was the head coach for the 2001-02 season, when the Mountaineers last won an OCAA Championship. He has also spent time with the Toronto Fastpitch Club.
Recognized across Canada's softball landscape, Spohn will fill the role of Assistant Coach. He brings with him more than 25 years of coaching experience.
Spohn has been the head coach of the Toronto Fastpitch Club and Brampton Blazers over the last two decades, and has captured eight provincial championships, multiple national medals and a 1999 Eastern Canadian Tier 1 Novice Championship. Under his wing, Spohn has coached over 50 student-athletes who went on to continue their softball careers in the NCAA, NJCAA, OCAA and OUA. He has had eight players that have gone on to play for the Canadian Junior Women's National Program and four have played on the Canadian Senior Women's National Program.
Nemish is one of the most decorated coach's in OCAA history, and will hold the title of Assistant Coach – Softball Operations and Head of Recruiting.
The veteran softball coach spent 31 seasons at the helm of the Durham Lords program, where he won 550 games, and won 17 OCAA Championships, including 16 consecutive between 1997 to 2012. He was twice named OCAA coach of the year.
"The combined experience between these four coaches is unmatched across the OCAA," said Matthew Ferreira, Director of Athletics and Recreation. "There is no doubt in my mind that they will step in and build a program that will immediately compete and stay competitive year-over-year."
The Mountaineers would like to extend their appreciation to Erin Forman and Logan White, who for the last two years had guided the Mohawk softball program as co-head coaches.
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