GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Head softball coach Brad Koch announced on Monday (July 14) that Jon Gwizdala will return to Davenport and join the DU coaching staff. Gwizdala was an assistant coach with the Panthers from October 2019 until September 2021. 

He joins the Davenport coaching staff after spending a season as the head softball coach at Jackson College.

Prior to Jackson College, he was at the University of Toledo serving as the pitching coach beginning in August 2022. In his first year on staff, the Rockets turned in a 21-25 record and 14-14 league mark. Riley Mohr and Jenna Kroll earned all-conference honors, Erin Hunt was named MAC Medal of Excellence recipient, 13 Rockets were placed on the Academic All-MAC team, and four student-athletes earned Academic All-District honors.

Gwizdala began his collegiate career in 2010 as a pitcher for Delta College, a junior college in University Center, Mich. During his freshman year, he was president of the school's club baseball program, pitching and playing first base. As a sophomore, Gwizdala was named captain for the inaugural varsity season and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. Gwizdala became a volunteer assistant coach for Delta softball in 2013 and again in 2016. He completed his undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University and he served as a practice player for the Chippewas' softball team in 2014 where he worked with Bracamonte, who was an assistant coach for CMU at the time. 

Before his Mid-American Conference coaching career began, Gwizdala served as the assistant softball coach at Davenport University from 2019-21. While on staff, he helped develop pitchers Emma Miller (first team) and Ellie Muilenburg (second team) to all-conference honors in 2021. Gwizdala was also the camp and events coordinator at Davenport.

Gwizdala spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach at Western Michigan, working with the Broncos' pitching staff. Under Gwizdala's guidance, the Broncos improved their strikeout total, ERA, and WHIP from the previous season. Senior pitcher Riley Galloway broke the school single-season strikeout record (267) en route to a First-Team All-MAC selection.

Gwizdala's coaching resume also includes being an instructor at Diamonds Sports Training in Grand Rapids, Mich. and at the Great Lakes Baseball Softball Hitting Club in Saginaw, Mich. from 2010-16. He went on to become an assistant director of scouting for RISE Softball Midwest Region in Midland, Mich. from 2017-19. While at RISE, he managed media relations and promotion, and assisted in the recruitment of 84 high school athletes who went on to play college  softball. 

He was a member of the USA Men's National Softball Team. The team finished fifth at the 2019 World Tournament in Prague, Czech Republic. Gwizdala also traveled to the 2019 WBSC World Championships in Prague and the Pan American games in Lima, Peru with the Silver Medal winning Team USA. Most recently,  Gwizdala and the USA Men's National Softball Team snapped a 22-year medal drought on Dec. 4, 2022, as they collected a bronze medal at the 2022 WBSC Men's Softball World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. Team USA defeated world-ranked No. 1 Argentina by a 2-0 final. In the circle, Gwizdala recorded a 5.25 ERA with 19 strikeouts through 13.1 innings pitched.

Originally from Bay City, Mich., Gwizdala earned an associates degree in science from Delta in 2013, a bachelor's degree in exercise science from CMU in 2016, and a Teacher's Certification in science and physical education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2018.