A former UIC softball standout and 1999 graduate, Kiara Zalewski enters her first season as assistant coach, working primarily with the pitching staff for the Flames. Zalewski, a native of Santa Ana, Calif., starred for UIC from 1995-98 where she both pitched and played first base, earning Midwestern Collegiate Conference All-Conference recognition in three of her four years in a Flames uniform. During her tenure, she tallied a 67-21 career record as a pitcher with a 1.16 ERA and 426 strikeouts. She twice finished the season ranked in the top 20 in the country in ERA, including her 1995 rookie campaign in which she set the UIC single-season record for ERA at 0.53. At the plate, Zalewski posted a .266 career average for UIC with 62 RBI. The Flames won three conference titles during her career and in 1998 Zalewski started UIC’s current NCAA regional championship appearance streak behind a stellar season in which she went a personal-best 24-8 in the circle while hitting .294 with three home runs and 31 RBI. Since graduating from UIC in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training, Zalewski has been working at Aliso Viejo Physical Therapy in Aliso Viejo, Calif., as an office manager and physical therapy aid. She has also been honing her coaching skills as a private pitching instructor in the Southern California area. This past summer, Zalewski played professional softball for Ronchi dei Legionari in the eight-team Italian League. |
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