Syracuse Women’s Softball Assistant Coach Mike Bosch
A National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Coach of the Year, Mike Bosch brings 13 years of head coaching experience and an impressive resume to the Orange softball staff.
Building a Powerhouse
Prior to joining the SU staff, Bosch spent the past 13 seasons as head coach at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa where he built the program into a perennial contender with two NJCAA Division II National Championship appearances in his final three seasons. While at Iowa Lakes, Bosch produced 28 All-Americans and 81 all-region selections while compiling a 525-236-2 overall record.
In 2010, Bosch led the Lakers to a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship and earned NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year honors. He earned his 500th career victory on April 6, 2010 in a 12-0 shutout of Dakota County Technical College before guiding the team to a Region XI Championship and a District F title. Iowa Lakes was one of 16 teams to earn an NJCAA National Championship berth, finishing the season with a 60-11 overall record.
Bosch and his staff earned NFCA NJCAA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2008 after leading the Lakers to a Region XI title, District F championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA Division II National Championship. The team finished the 2008 season with a 59-13 overall record while hitting a program-best .392 with 47 home runs.
During his tenure, Bosch’s Iowa Lakes teams hit better than .287 every season, including 10 seasons where the squad’s batting average was above .300. Bosch and his staff also earned NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2006. In addition to his duties at Iowa Lakes, Bosch has also served as a clinician at various softball camps, including the University of Tennessee camp, specializing in pitching.
Strong Mentor
Prior to joining the Iowa Lakes staff as an assistant coach in 1996, Bosch spent four seasons as a high school head coach in Minnesota. He began his coaching career as the varsity softball coach at Wabasso High School, leading the team to state tournament appearances in each of his two seasons while earning a pair of Region 3A Coach of the Year honors. Wabasso compiled a 39-10 record during Bosch’s tenure, finishing fifth in the 1991 state tournament and seventh in 1992.
Bosch moved from Wabasso to nearby Jackson High School where he compiled a 29-9 record through two seasons. At Jackson, Bosch led the squad to a first place finish in the 1993 state tournament while earning his third Region 3A Coach of the Year award in as many seasons.
Playing Days
While beginning his coaching career, Bosch also gained valuable experience playing men’s fastpitch softball. He joined the team Happy Chef out of Mankato, Minn. in 1992 and played for five seasons before joining The Ranch in Fairmont, Minn. where he played three seasons.
In the Classroom
In addition to his duties on the field during his 14 years at Iowa Lakes, Bosch also served as a Professor of Mathematics, teaching courses in statistics, calculus, pre-calculus for more than 3,000 students annually. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Southwest State University and his Master’s in Mathematics from Mankato State University. He and his wife Leslie have three children.