Santiago to lead NSU girls’ Softball

It took a month-long search, but Nicholls State Athletics Director Rob Bernardi has his new softball coach.

He comes with a prestigious pedigree working with some of the top programs in the country.

Bernardi announced last Wednesday that Florida State assistant coach Angel Santiago has agreed to be the team’s new coach, pending approval by the University of Louisiana System.

Santiago replaces former coach Jenny Parsons, who resigned in August to accept a job as an assistant coach at Central Arkansas.

“I’m excited to accomplish new experiences in the classroom and on the field [at Nicholls],” Santiago said. “This will be a great opportunity for the team and coaching staff together to show what the program is all about at Nicholls.”

Bernardi said close to 30 people applied for the vacant position.

He added that Santiago rose to the top of the list because of his proven track record luring top talent into the programs he coaches.

“Coach Santiago is known as a tireless recruiter and an exceptional teacher of the game,” Bernardi said.

With the Seminoles, Santiago helped mold Florida State into one of the best teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The ‘Noles advanced to the NCAA Division I Softball Championships in all three seasons he spent with the team, including last season when the team won the ACC Tournament Championship.

“I know he will have a positive impact on our women’s softball program,” Bernardi said. “Both now and in the years to come.”

Santiago has a track record of improving a team’s offense.

Under his watch, Florida State hit for a .297 team batting average in 2010, its highest mark since the 2003 season.

The ‘Noles also drew 212 team walks, which were the most since the 2004 season.

Prior to joining the Seminoles, Santiago served as an assistant coach for five seasons at UNLV.

Under his watch, the struggling Rebels made marked improvement and won 44 games in 2005, the third highest win total in the team’s history.

That team also reaped the benefits of Santiago’s offensive prowess and stroked 50 team home runs.

Santiago got his start in coaching as the baseball coach at Prairie State College. Prior to that, he played four years of minor league baseball on the independent circuit, including in 1994 when he led the league with a .374 batting average.

Now it’s onto a new chapter, leading the Colonels into the future.

He said he’s excited for what the future holds.

“I have great confidence that the quality recruits we plan to bring on campus will see all of the effort going into this team as well,” Santiago said. “A lot of thoughtful and dedicated days are going to be the key factors to create this talented team’s future success.”

Bernardi got his man.

His resume proves he may be worth the month-long wait.