Wheaton, Ill. – Mike Schauer ('93), acting Athletics Director at Wheaton College, has named Amanda Fazzari as the head coach of the Wheaton softball team. Fazzari comes to Wheaton from Trinity Christian College (TCC) where she has served as the head softball coach since 2019.

Fazzari replaces Ellen Radandt-Stremler, who served as Wheaton's head softball coach for six seasons beginning in 2017 through the 2023 campaign.

Schauer says of the new Thunder softball coach, "Coach Fazzari will be an excellent addition to the Wheaton Athletics Department. She is a talented and accomplished coach, and I am excited to see where she takes our softball program."

Fazzari led her 2023 Trinity Christian College squad to the program's first winning season since 1992. Additionally, TCC advanced to the Final of the 2023 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Softball World Series for the first time in program history as Fazzari's squad posted a 4-1 at the NCCAA Tournament in Kansas City this May. The Trolls' 25 victories this spring was the second-highest win total in team history.

Prior to her tenure at Trinity Christian, Fazzari served as assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University from 2016-18. In her two seasons with the Titans' staff, IWU won 73% percent of its games, CCIW regular season and conference tournament titles. The Titans placed second in the 2018 NCAA Division III Championships and were fifth in 2017.

A three-year letterwinner for the Titans' softball team, Fazzari earned All-CCIW accolades as a senior in 2014. She played for two CCIW regular season championship squads and two CCIW tournament champion units. She earned her B.A. on Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan in 2014 and achieved a master's degree in Kinesiology and Recreation from Illinois State University in 2017.

Fazzari spent one season as assistant coach at Heartland Community College. She helped lead Heartland to a regular season conference championship and District Championship in 2016, as well as participation in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament.

Fazzari says of her appointment as Wheaton's head coach, "I'm extremely humbled by the ways the Lord has led me to Wheaton and for the opportunity Dr. Paul Chelsen and Coach Schauer have given me. The college possesses a rich legacy of well-rounded student-athletes who demonstrate that academic and athletic excellence can complement each other, all while seeking God's will. I value those with a competitive edge who excel under high expectations with passionate and spiritual leaders."

The new Thunder head coach says of Thunder softball, "The softball program specifically has so much untapped potential. As a former student-athlete and coach at both elite and growing programs, I have an exceptional understanding of what it takes to develop a culture of excellence and believe Wheaton College softball can compete at a much higher level. I'm dedicated towards developing its players and seeking student-athletes who want to be a part of the next big, Christ-centered build."