RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Ethan Giese was named the University of Wisconsin-River Falls head softball coach on Aug. 30, 2024, announced by Athletics Director Crystal Lanning.

Giese comes to UWRF after spending the 2024 season as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton, where he helped lead the Flyers to the program's first ever Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. As the staff's pitching coach, Giese led the Flyer's pitching staff to an overall ERA of 2.47 while leading the Atlantic 10 during league play with a 1.93 ERA. He and his colleagues were selected as the Atlantic 10 Coaching Staff of the Year.

"I am excited to welcome Coach Giese to UW-River Falls as our head softball coach," said Lanning. "He has experienced success in fastpitch softball as both a player and coach, and his experience in the WIAC will allow him to make an immediate impact on the Falcon softball program."

Before Dayton, Giese served as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse for four seasons from 2020-23. During his time at UWL, the Eagles compiled a 71-41 overall record, won the WIAC regular season title in 2022 and the tournament crown in 2023, reaching the NCAA Tournament. While leading the pitching staff, he coached six student-athletes to All-WIAC honors along with the two-time WIAC Pitcher of the Year (2022-23), several NFCA All-Region recipients, and an NFCA All-American in 2022. For two consecutive seasons (2022-23), Giese and the UWL coaches were recognized as the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

"I am honored and thrilled to be joining UW-River Falls and leading the softball program," said Giese. "I am looking forward to the team swiftly turning the page to the next chapter and returning to the expectation of success at the WIAC and national level."

A 2014 graduate of UW-La Crosse, Giese also has men's fastpitch softball playing experience as a pitcher and utility player. Since 2010, he's played all over the Midwest from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois.