New Members of the Athletics Family
Kosciak named BGSU Newcomer of the Year
For her unwavering leadership and support to BGSU student-athletes, staff and University co-workers, Stacy Kosciak has been named BGSU's 2021 Newcomer of the Year. Kosciak, Senior Associate AD/SWA and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, has made an immediate positive impact on the department since beginning her role in Bowling Green in April of 2020.
"Congratulations to Stacy Kosciak on the Newcomer of the Year Award," said BGSU Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger. "Her official start date was April 6, 2020, just weeks after the world stopped during the global pandemic. There was no acclimation period for her as she was thrown into the middle of crisis management. Stacy has shown herself to be a positive and solutions-oriented leader. Through it all, Stacy led with empathy, expertise and compassion. Our success is a direct reflection on her work. She is a tremendous asset to Falcon Athletics and BGSU!"
VINCENT BRIEDIS
VINCENT BRIEDISVincent Briedis was named assistant athletics director for strategic communications in July of 2021. Briedis comes to BGSU after 12 years at Virginia where he assisted the department in promoting 14 NCAA team titles and various other individual NCAA championships. Briedis was the primary media contact for the Cavalier football and men’s lacrosse programs all 12 years in Charlottesville. While at UVA, Briedis promoted the Cavaliers at such events as the ESPYS, ESPN Car Wash, the College World Series, bowl games and men’s lacrosse Final Fours, highlighted by Virginia’s 2011, 2019 and 2021 NCAA title teams.
TAYLOR CLARKE
TAYLOR CLARKETaylor Clarke begins his first season on the Bowling Green State University Women's Soccer staff after leading the Ashland Eagles to an overall record of 32-12-7 (.696) in three seasons as head coach, and leading his team to NCAA Division II postseason appearances in both 2018 and 2019. Prior to his time at Ashland, Clarke served as the assistant men's soccer coach at Calvin (Mich.) College in 2017. He helped the Knights to a 21-1-1 record and a berth in the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen. Clarke played collegiate soccer at Saginaw Valley State University, where he was a three-year team captain and was named to the GLIAC All-Academic team four times.
Taylor Clarke's Complete Biography
Fischer earns Ferrari Award for Outstanding Leadership
For his outstanding leadership and dedicated commitment to BGSU student-athletes and the University, Dan Fischer, assistant AD for sports medicine, has been named the 2021 Michael R. Ferrari Award winner.
Known around the department for his genuine personality, passion and work ethic, Fischer, for over a decade at BGSU, has continued to go the extra mile for his student-athletes and co-workers.
"During a period that has challenged each of us as never before, Dan has consistently delivered on the qualities of exceptional performance and a genuine sensitivity to others by showing an open, caring attitude," said BGSU Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger. "Dan embodies what Dr. Ferrari stood for and has stood out during our most challenging year ever."
ERIC LEWIS
ERIC LEWISEric Lewis joined the Falcon Football staff as an assistant coach in February of 2020, overseeing the cornerbacks. In March of 2021, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. Lewis joined BGSU following a stint coaching the defensive backs at Boston College. He has 17 years of collegiate and NFL experience, including time as a defensive quality control coach with the Green Bay Packers and in various positions with MAC rivals Buffalo, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. In addition, Lewis was a four-year starter at San Diego State (1994-98) and finished as the Aztecs' all-time leader in career pass breakups.
DAMARIS LINKER
DAMARIS LINKERDamaris Linker was named the director of Football Operations in April of 2021. She oversees the daily operations of the football program. Prior to arriving in Bowling Green, Linker was the Director of Operations for Texas Tech's volleyball program. Before her stop in Lubbock, Linker served three seasons as the Director of Volleyball Operations at the University at Mississippi, two seasons in the same role at Ohio University, and worked as an Assistant Volleyball Coach at Rockford University in 2014. Linker played volleyball at Quincy University from 2009-12, captaining the Hawks and earning Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors in three of those years.
STAVROS PASKARIS
STAVROS PASKARISStavros Paskaris joined the Falcon Hockey coaching staff in May of 2021. Prior to that, Paskaris spent the 2020-21 season with the Dartmouth hockey program. Prior to Dartmouth, Paskaris was part of the Princeton hockey team, serving as an assistant coach from 2014-20. Paskaris began his coaching career with Adrian College, serving as an assistant on the staff for five seasons. Paskaris was a four-year member of Wayne State University’s varsity hockey program, being named the College Hockey America Rookie of the Year in 2005. He also played for the Dayton Bombers in the ECHL.
MATT ST. LOUIS
MATT ST. LOUISMatt St. Louis is in his first year as an assistant athletic trainer at BGSU in 2020-21. He works primarily with the Falcon Women's Basketball and Swimming & Diving programs. St. Louis joined the Falcons after serving as an athletic trainer at Michigan Technological University since 2014. With MTU, he worked with the volleyball, cross country, Nordic skiing, track and field, men's basketball, women's soccer and men's and women's tennis teams.
BILL SWITAJ
BILL SWITAJBill Switaj was named director of Club Sports in August of 2020. Prior to coming to BGSU, Bill spent the previous 32 years at Kent State where he was the head hockey coach for six years and the ice arena manager for the last 26 years. He has also served as the coach-in-chief for the Mid-American District of USA Hockey since 1997. In this role he oversees the coaching education of all youth coaches in five states. For the last 32 years, Bill has also run hockey camps in the summer months, which attract over 1,200 boys and girls from 35 states. Starting in 2021, the camps are now held at BGSU.
STEVEN WRIGHT
STEVEN WRIGHTSteve Wright was hired as assistant Men's Basketball coach on June 4, 2020. Wright has extensive coaching experience at nearly all levels of basketball and has served as an assistant coach at the JUCO and NAIA levels. In addition, Wright has over five years of combined head coaching experience in the high school and AAU ranks. The former BGSU point guard (2003-06) completed his final year of eligibility at Northern Kentucky University, where he was an NCAA Division II All-American in 2007. Wright went on to play first-team professional basketball in Germany and Finland from 2007-11.
Updated: 08/24/2021 03:03PM