Kiara Boyle
Lead
Instructor
|
Although I started my softball career at the ripe old age of 5, I did not
start pitching until the summer before my Freshman year of high school. I
began lessons immediately, and thanks to an amazing pitching coach, some
natural ability and a lot of hard work, I have been able to enjoy a long
career. My first taste of success came my senior year of high school when
I helped lead my team to a CIF Championship. In California, that is the
highest you can go, so I guess it is the equivalent of most state
championships. After that I became a student-athlete at the University of
Illinois at Chicago. I quickly found my place on the mound and led the
nation in ERA for part of my freshman season. During my tenure, I tallied
a 67-21 career record as a pitcher with a 1.16 ERA and 426 strikeouts. I
twice finished the season ranked in the top 20 in the country in ERA,
including my 1995 rookie campaign in which I set the UIC single-season
record for ERA at 0.53. Forever trying to be a complete athlete, I posted
a .266 career average for UIC with 62 RBI.
I graduated in 1999 with
a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Medicine. I have used that knowledge to work
with the Los Angeles Kings hockey team during several of their children's
camps. I also worked as a physical therapy aide at MVP Sports Centers. It
was then that I was approached to play overseas professionally in the
Italian Leagues. I spent two summers there, and my second season I was
asked to help the Italian National team prepare for their Olympic
qualifying tournament.
I returned to the states
to receive a coaching position at my alma mater, UIC. I was thrilled to
have the opportunity to coach at the highest level and get a taste from
the "other" side. It turned out to be an invaluable experience,
as I now have a working knowledge of the entire recruiting process, from
both the student-athlete and coach's perspective.
Having now moved to the
Northern Virginia region, I decided to continue teaching young girls how
to become pitchers. I have held multiple clinics in the area, and have
already developed a wonderful base of students. Watching these girls grow
and excel in an area I already hold so dear has turned out to be the
ultimate in all of my successes. |
