After a season as interim, Chris Iliopoulos named Blue Devils' head softball coach

MENOMONIE (July 6, 2022) - After a season as the UW-Stout interim softball coach, the interim tag was removed and Chris Iliopoulos was selected as the Blue Devil head coach, athletic director Duey Naatz announced today.

In his first season heading up the program, Iliopoulos' charges doubled the program's wins totals from the previous season, and saw three players selected to the All-Wisconsin intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) team.

"Chris is a hard-worker and a relentless recruiter," Naatz said. "During the interview process Chris demonstrated to the committee that he is ready and committed to being the head coach. We look forward to watching the Blue Devil softball program excel in the upcoming years."

Iliopoulos came to Stout beginning with the 2018 season as an assistant coach and will begin his sixth season with the Blue Devils in the 2022-23 season. 

In Iliopoulos' first year as the head coach, the Blue Devils doubled their wins total from the previous season in the 2022 season. Senior outfielder Korin Hall and sophomore third baseman Kayli Pfeffer were first team all-conference picks and sophomore catcher Lexy Kupczak was honorable mention. Shannon Jones was the WIAC scholar-athlete and earned Academic All-District honors.

Throughout his four years as an assistant coach with the Blue Devils, Iliopoulos worked in all facets of the game, in particular worked with the hitting and infield aspects in addition to being an integral part of the recruiting process.

Iliopoulus was a two-year member of the Truman State University baseball team where he played both corner positions as well as a designated hitter.  During his time at Truman, the team qualified for their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II post-season tournament and an NCAA Division II World Series appearance.

Prior to Truman State, Iliopoulos was a two-year starter at Spoon River College where he played primarily third base and designated hitter. 

Over the summers, Iliopoulos developed his coaching knowledge while working as the head coach for the 16U Fastball USA club team based out of Schaumburg, Ill,  and assisting at the academy as an explosive hitting instructor. 

Iliopoulos received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Truman State in December, 2017, and recently completed his masters degree in Sports Administration from Bellhaven University in Mississippi.

Iliopoulos is the fifth head coach in Blue Devil softball program history, which began with the 1992 season.