Bellevue University Women's Softball

Cimino Coaching File In her first seven seasons as the head softball coach at Bellevue University, Michala Cimino has guided the Bruins to four conference regular season titles, five conference tournament titles and five appearances in the NAIA National Softball Tournament. Cimino, who was named the MCAC Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015 and NSAA Coach of the Year in 2016, has compiled an overall record of 261-114-1 and a 101-16 (.863) mark in conference play. Coach Cimino led the Bruins to their seventh-straight 30-win season in 2016, guiding the Bruins to an overall mark of 34-20. Bellevue won a school-record 19 conference games in their first year in the NSAA which was good for a second place finish in the final league standings. BU reached the bracket championship round of the conference tournament before fall to eventual champion Dickinson State. 2015 saw BU advance to the NAIA National Tournament for the third-straight season and the eighth time in school history as the Bruins completed the season with a 41-14-1 record. Bellevue pulled the double of winning the MCAC regular season and tournament championships in the same season for the first time since 2011 and the sixth time overall. The 2014 Bruins advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the second-straight season and the seventh time in school history and completed the season with a 36-17 overall record. BU finished runner-up in MCAC regular season with a 16-4 mark before winning the conference tournament championship. In 2012, Cimino guided the Bruins to a 44-16 overall record including two victories over Central Baptist College who finished the season ranked No. 5. She has coached 24 first team all-MCAC players as well as three MCAC Players of the Year, three MCAC Pitchers of the Year, three MCAC Newcomers of the Year and two Freshmen of the Year. After helping guide the University of Nebraska at Omaha to 12 consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances as an assistant coach, Cimino became Bellevues head softball coach on July 1, 2009. Cimino, who replaced Bellevue athletic director and softball coach Ed Lehotak, became just the second head softball coach in school history. In her 12 seasons as an assistant coach at UNO, the Mavericks won seven North Central Conference titles and compiled a record of 559-184 (.752). Nebraska-Omaha won at least 30 games every season during Ciminos stay at UNO, highlighted by the Mavericks 2001 national championship. Cimino also enjoyed a stellar athletic career at UNO from 1993-94 and was inducted into the schools athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. She led the Mavericks to a third place finish in the 1994 NCAA Division II National Tournament and, in the process, was named to the all-North Central Conference and all-Midwest Region teams. In addition, she was named to the all-tournament team at the 1994 NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament and the 1994 NCAA II National Finals. In only two seasons as a Maverick, Cimino set several school records, including most home runs in a career (18) and most home runs in a season (15). A native of Omaha, Cimino earned her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Nebraska-Omaha in 1998. She was married in August, 2004, to Kurt Cimino of Omaha.     Updated June 21, 2016

Cheshier returns for her 15th season as an assistant coach for the Bellevue University softball team in 2017. Cheshiers main responsibilities for the Bruins involve working with the pitching staff, player development and signal calling. Before becoming a mainstay on the coaching staff, Cheshier played two seasons as a Bruin in 1999 and 2000, earning NAIA and NFCA All-American status. Cheshier ranks third in batting average (.409), fourth in school history in slugging percentage (.694) and ninth in home runs (20). As a pitcher, Cheshier has the lowest earned run average (ERA) in program history, 1.43, in 309.0 innings pitched. She posted a two-year career record of 37-12. In addition to her playing accolades, Cheshier coached Omaha Gross Catholic High School for four years, which included two Nebraska state tournament appearances. Her other credentials include a three-year coaching stint at Omaha Skutt Catholic High School from 2000 to 2003. Cheshier and her husband, Eric, live in Omaha with their two children, Cyrus and Haley. She also works for Bellevue University as a Virtual Admissions Specialist.