Draves Hired To Lead Marian Softball

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Director of Athletics Jason Bartelt has announced the promotion of Tony Draves to head softball coach at Marian University, today, Aug. 11. Draves recently completed his 12th season as assistant with the Sabres in 2014.



The Oakfield native is no stranger to Marian University Athletics, having served as assistant men’s basketball coach for the past 13 seasons in addition to his softball duties. He takes over for Ashley Steltenpohl, who accepted the head coaching position at UW-Stevens Point after four seasons at the helm.



“It would have taken an amazing opportunity for me to leave the classroom and I can’t thank enough our Athletic Director, Jason Bartelt, for making this happen,” said Draves, who has taught mathematics for the past 19 years, including the last seven at Fond du Lac High School.



“What makes the situation even more special is the benefit of knowing the ladies existing in our program and having recruited all of them and gotten to know their families,” Draves added. “I think that gives us an advantage heading into the year and I can’t wait to get started.”



Draves brings a wealth of experience, having served as assistant on the softball staff for 13 years. In his first season on staff, Marian won the 2003 Lake Michigan Conference title and qualified for the NCAA tournament. The following season, the Sabres won the 2004 regular season crown with a 10-2 league record.



In 2010, he provided stability, serving as interim head coach until the next full-time replacement was hired.



From 1997-2002, Draves was the head coach at North Fond du Lac High School, guiding the program to regional titles in 1999 and 2001, while leading the ’99 squad to the sectional final.



He was also manager of Oakfield in the Rock River League – the oldest amateur baseball league in Wisconsin – from 1997-2001. His teams qualified for the playoffs in each of his five seasons and won three division titles.



Draves is an alumnus of UW-Oshkosh, where earned his bachelor’s (1995) and master’s (2000) degrees in mathematics education.



He, his wife, Tricia, and their two children, Erin and Tony, Jr., currently reside in Fond du Lac.