Kansas City, MO - The Avila University Eagles athletic department has hired Rob Wade as their new head softball coach. Wade was most recently the head softball coach at Blue Valley North High School as well as head coach and founder of the Kansas City Zephyrs Gold Junior club softball team.  

Over the past seven years with the Zephyrs, Wade aided in the development and recruiting of over 35 NCAA Division I softball players. Wade has also coached several all-star teams as he served as head coach for the Adidas Futures All Star Team last month, an assistant coach in the St. Louis All Starts vs. US Olympic Team game in 2008, and was co-head coach in the 2009 Adidas All Star Class game in Boulder, Colorado.

"I am tremendously excited to become the head coach of Avila softball", said Wade. "It is my goal for the program to ascend to the top of the HAAC conference and to compete for a national championship. I have high expectations for the future of Avila softball."

Wade replaces Alicia Baker who led the Eagles to a 9-35 record in her one year at the helm. The Eagles graduate four seniors and are tabbed to return 15 letter winners led by HAAC Honorable Mention shortstop Darah Matheis.

Avila Athletic Director Gary Gallup had the following to say on Wade's hiring, "Rob Wade is a tremendous addition to our outstanding athletic staff. He is very highly thought of by his peers in the softball community in the Kansas City area and throughout the nation. His experience and passion will help us develop a first-class softball program.