Aug. 2, 2007

DEKALB, Ill. -Northern Illinois University head softball coach Lindsay Chouinard completed her coaching staff with the hiring of assistant coaches Megan Ciolli and Kara Amundson. Both have strong Midwest ties and bring a wealth of experience as standout student-athletes from two of the top programs in the nation.

Ciolli comes to Northern Illinois after serving as a graduate assistant coach of the Loyola University-Chicago Softball Program. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Ciolli was a centerfielder on the Irish's softball team from 2002-05 and a team captain from 2004-05. The 2004 Big East Player of the Year, Ciolli earned NFCA Third Team All-American honors in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 she helped lead the Irish to the Big East Championship. After leaving South Bend, Ciolli played outfield for the Chicago Bandits of the National Professional Fastpitch softball league from 2005-06.

"I am extremely excited to have Megan coaching at Northern Illinois," Chouinard said of Ciolli. "She is a great teacher of the game who really understands softball technically, both offensively and defensively. She has great passion and zest for the game which will be infectious throughout the team."

Amundson is a product of not only one of the best softball programs in the Midwest, but the country. A graduate of DePaul University, she played catcher, outfield and first base during her four-year career with the Blue Demons. She was a member of DePaul's 2003 Conference USA Championship team and both the 2005 and 2007 Women's College World Series teams. She was named to the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005 and was a Big East Academic All-Star in 2006 and 2007.

"Kara is a great addition to our staff," She said. "She is hard-working and understands what it takes to play at the highest level of Division I softball. Kara will be an unbelievable mentor to our players."

Chouinard enters her first season at the helm of the NIU softball program. She comes to DeKalb after three seasons as an assistant coach at here alma mater, DePaul. She played a vital role in the Blue Demons' run to the 2007 Women's College World Series. As a student-athlete, Chouinard was a three time All-American pitcher for the Blue Demons, leading them to the Women's College World Series in 2000. She takes over a team that went 22-28 and received a berth in the 2007 MAC Softball Tournament.