Kirsten Voak - CoFounder

In her first season at the helm - with direct oversight of the pitching staff - the Golden Eagles navigated through a thin pitching rotation to finish among Conference USA's best come season end.

During the 2012 season, Voak directed a young group of pitchers with just one veteran pitcher, Dietrich, who was with the Golden Eagles prior to the season. The second-year coach worked with true freshmen Kaitlin Wilson and Emily Wood, as well as directing transfer Kimberly Wagner and Dietrich. The trio of Dietrich, Wagner and Wilson carried the majority of the workload, combining for 74 appearances with 50 starts to their credit. Under Voak's tutelage, the trio of pitchers combined for 332.0 innings with 157 strikeouts.

Voak came to Southern Miss after spending the 2006-10 seasons at her alma mater, Arizona State, where she served as an assistant under head coach Clint Myers.

In her five seasons with the team, the Sun Devils amassed a 264-73 (.783) overall record and won the 2008 Women's College World Series (WCWS) National Championship.

During the 2008 season, Voak and the other members of the ASU coaching staff were named the National Coaching Staff of the Year. Throughout her tenure at Arizona State, the Sun Devils were one of the top programs in the nation, making five consecutive trips to the Super  Regional stage of the NCAA Tournament and advancing to four consecutive Women's College World Series. While serving as the pitching coach, Voak developed three-time All-American pitcher Katie Burkhart, who was also named the MVP of the 2008 WCWS. She was also responsible for the development of six other All-Americans while at ASU. Voak was a standout pitcher for Arizona State from 1999 through 2002, earning All-American honors in 1999 and 2000. In addition, she was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, earning the distinction in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

James Ellis - President & CoFounder

Local small business owner and club parent for 9 years James responsibilities to the team are simple

• Ensure all teams are attending the top tournaments in the nation
• All girls are committed to the “right” college program
• Well-financed through donations, sponsorships, and dues

Jon Malgradi - Vice President & CoFounder

During his first two seasons working with the Southern Miss hitters, Malgradi produced back-to-back Conference USA All-Freshman team honorees

As the head coach at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz., Malgradi compiled a 102-76 record, including a top-10 ranking in 2011 and a regular season conference championship in 2010. The program also set school record marks for wins (42) and their highest ranking in the NJCAA National Poll (No. 2). 

From 2006-10, Malgradi also served as a clinician at all Arizona State softball camps. Prior to Mesa, Malgradi coached at Central Arizona College in 2008, leading the Vaqueros to a .403 team batting average, and a Division I NJCAA record 484 runs in 62 games.

In 2006-07, Malgradi coached varsity at Seton Catholic High School where he also taught science, biology and anatomy physiology. Malgradi's team went 20-2, breaking 21 of 23 school records in the process, en route to winning a state title at Seton Catholic. Malgradi played baseball collegiately while at Fresno State during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. However, his playing career was cut short due to extensive damage in his pitching shoulder. Malgradi earned his degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports psychology in 2005.

Richard Kates - Athletic Trainer

Coach K. joined the Arizona Suncats in August of 2016.  Coach K is responsible for developing all of our conditioning plans in addition to running our Monday lifting sessions.  You can usually find Coach K. on the field tending to an injury or working with the girls in the dugout helping us to improve our offensive game.

In 2010, Mr. Kates became Red Mountain's head, athletic trainer. As a teacher, his primary responsibility is to create & implement a sports medicine curriculum that provides student-trainers meaningful opportunities in athletic treatment during interscholastic competition. As the head athletic trainer, Mr. Kates is responsible for the care & prevention of injuries of Red Mountain's athletes. Prior to Red Mountain, Mr. Kates was the head athletic trainer at Desert Mountain & Chaparral High School. He also worked at Foothills Physical Therapy as the head athletic trainer & FAST Manager while completing a Masters of Science in Human Kinesiology.

Ryan Bohlander - Athletic Trainer

Coach Ryan has coached at all levels of youth and teen softball for the past 7 years. His specialty is conditioning along with mental and physical game preparation. Coach Ryan earned his Children's Fitness Certification from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA) and is the owner and operator of JumpStart Kids Fitness...a comprehensive kids fitness/wellness enrichment program taught at schools and community centers throughout the greater Phoenix-area. 

Marcos Ruiz - Assistant Coach

Former 12U club coach in Santa Clara, CA for the Sparks Marcos joins the Arizona Suncats 14u as an assistant coach. Marcos has been coaching at the club level for 6 years now.  Marcos is key asset to developing our infield defense and keeping girls head in the game.

Eric Ulrich - Assistant Coach

Coach Ulrich has coached baseball from 2010 to 2017 for levels including 10u-18u club, High School Freshman-Varsity including their summer programs. His main area of focus has been infield mechanics. Starting 2013 Coach Ulrich has been an active assistant softball coach from 2013 to current for 12u-18u.