ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Northwestern College stayed within the state of Iowa while deciding on a new head softball coach to guide the Red Raiders.
Chris Nachtigall was named as Stephanie Martindale's successor this week, taking over a Northwestern program that qualified for the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament for the first time in three seasons this spring.
Nachtigall comes to Orange City from Kalona in the southeast Iowa, having been the athletic director, admissions director and softball coach at Iowa Mennonite High School.
Nachtigall, who will begin his fifth and final season as softball coach at IMS next week, has posted a 26-73 mark and was named Southeast Iowa Super Conference and Class 1A southeast district coach of the year in 2009, leading IMS to an 8-18 record.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Northwestern College community," Nachtigall said. "We have a large core group of girls returning who have a lot of experience to build on, so I am looking forward to working with them."
A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan College, Nachtigall, who was also an assitant boys basketball coach and head girls basketball coach at IMS, previously served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Hesston College from 2001-2003.
"We are very excited to welcome Chris on board," Northwestern athletic director Barry Brandt. "He is a quality young man who will bring a lot of passion to the program."
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