University of Wisconsin, River Falls Women's Softball

Ethan Giese was announced as the UW-River Falls head softball coach in August of 2024 and enters his second season leading the Falcons in 2026. In his first year at the helm, Giese guided River Falls to a 19-21 overall record, nearly doubling the team’s win total from the previous season and marking a significant step forward for the program. He helped establish a competitive foundation while developing key contributors, including the WIAC Newcomer of the Year. Giese came to UWRF after spending the 2024 season as an assistant coach at the University of Dayton, where he helped lead the Flyers to their first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. As the staff’s pitching coach, he guided the pitching staff to a 2.47 ERA and a league-best 1.93 ERA during conference play. He and the Dayton staff were named Atlantic 10 Coaching Staff of the Year. Prior to Dayton, Giese spent four seasons (2020-23) as an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse. During his tenure, the Eagles compiled a 71-41 record, captured the WIAC regular season title in 2022 and tournament title in 2023, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He coached multiple All-WIAC performers, including a two-time WIAC Pitcher of the Year, several NFCA All-Region selections, and an NFCA All-American. Giese and the UWL staff earned WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors in both 2022 and 2023. A 2014 graduate of UW-La Crosse, Giese also brings extensive experience as a men’s fastpitch softball player, competing as a pitcher and utility player across the Midwest since 2010.

Mike Perry joined the UWRF Softball coaching staff in the fall of 2024. With 18 years of girls' fastpitch coaching experience, Coach Perry is currently the Mission fastpitch 16U national team coach and 12U developmental coach. For the past three years, he has also served as an assistant softball coach at Forest Lake High School in Forest Lake, Minn., helping lead the Rangers to a Minnesota AAAA State Championship in 2022, along with a runner-up and a fourth place finish. Previously, Perry has coaching experience at the 16U Premier level as a recruiting coordinator for the Birmingham Thunderbolts Fast pitch Organization in Alabama. Perry's daughter, Justus, played for the Birmingham Thunderbolts and went on to play Division I at Auburn University and professionally in the Women's Professional Fastpitch softball league.  

John Kupka joined the UWRF softball coaching staff in the fall of 2024. Coach Kupka brings 22 years of experience playing men’s fastpitch throughout Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Throughout his playing career, John has competed in all levels of competition to include the state and national level. With most of his playing time spent behind the plate, Kupka has played every position on the field. In addition to his playing career, Kupka has also effectively managed multiple teams and helped in the development of next generation of mens fastpitch players.  A United States Air Force veteran with multiple tours of duty throughout the world, he also brings over 20 years of military leadership experience. John is currently a Logistics Manager for Conagra Foods in Menomonie, Wis., and lives locally with his wife Bree and son Peyton.  

Alicia Blake joined the UWRF Softball coaching staff in the fall of 2025. Blake was a four-year starting catcher for the University of Washington Huskies softball team from 2006-09. During her collegiate career, she helped lead the Huskies to two Women’s College World Series appearances, finishing third as a sophomore and capturing the National Championship as a senior. A rare left-handed catcher, Alicia called her own games throughout all four seasons at Washington. She led the team in both batting average and home runs as a junior, while also leading the Pac-10 in runners caught stealing. As a senior, she again topped the conference in pickoffs and runners caught stealing. Her collegiate honors include Second Team All-Pac-10 and Pac-10 Honorable Mention recognition. In 2009, Alicia’s championship team was inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame. Before college, Alicia was a standout multi-sport athlete, earning varsity letters in basketball, volleyball, and softball. A native of Olympia, Wash., she was named Athlete of the Year for her class all four years and was later inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame after leading her team to its first state championship. A consistently strong hitter, she led her team in batting average each season and showcased her versatility by pitching, catching, and playing first base throughout her career. Following her playing days, Alicia transitioned into coaching, serving on staff at Coeur d’Alene High School (Idaho) and as the pitching and catching coach at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. She has been providing softball instruction for over 15 years and continues to share her expertise through private lessons, as well as coaching her son’s and daughter’s travel baseball and softball teams. Alicia also serves as an instructor at Impact Sports Academy.

Mady Bunnell joined the UWRF Softball coaching staff in the fall of 2025. Most recently, she spent two seasons at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs from 2023-25, where she helped guide the Mountain Lions to their most successful campaign in a decade. UCCS earned a national top-25 offensive ranking and a third-place finish in the RMAC, driven by significant progress in hitting and catching performance. In addition to her on-field work, she led program camps, fundraising efforts, and community outreach initiatives - helping establish partnerships with DBAT Colorado Springs and Nike U.S. Sports Camps to expand access to softball development opportunities across the region. Before her time in Colorado, Bunell served as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University (2021-23), where she contributed to all aspects of player development, practice planning, and operational support. She also played a key role in launching the program’s inaugural Summer Stampede fundraising event. Her collegiate coaching journey began at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., (2020-21), where she served as a graduate assistant while earning her master’s degree in Organizational Management. In addition to her collegiate experience, Bunnell has held leadership roles in softball development as the Director of Softball Development at DBAT Colorado Springs and as a Nike Softball Camp Director. A native of Lakeville, Minn., Bunnell is a Falcon Softball alumna as a member of the team from 2015-17. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UWRF in Business Administration and Finance.  

Chad Visger joined the UWRF Softball staff as Director of Softball in 2025. He brings more than eight years of girls’ fastpitch coaching experience, including service as an assistant coach at River Falls High School (2023–25), an instructor and coach at Impact Sports Academy (2023–present), and Director of Player and Coach Development for River Falls Youth Softball (2022–present). A former collegiate catcher at Vermilion Community College, Chad retired from playing in 2000 when he entered military service, where he also began coaching through several baseball programs. Over the following two decades, he coached baseball extensively from youth (10U) through high school before fully transitioning to softball. A U.S. Army veteran, Chad now serves as a Criminal Investigator for the U.S. Government. He resides in the River Falls area with his wife and three children.