A professional softball trainer and coach with decades of experience, ranging from high school to the Olympics, Gerry Mauro returns for his third season at Saint Joseph's and first as co-head coach.

Mauro joined the Crimson and Gray as a volunteer assistant coach in 2006 after several years as a successful coach at the youth, high school, and Olympic levels. In his first season at Saint Joseph's, he helped the team to a two-game improvement in the Atlantic 10, while helping several Hawks to career-highs at the plate.

Serving as associate head coach last season, Mauro helped guide the Hawks to a six-game improvement overall and a five-win improvement in the Atlantic 10, including a berth in the A-10 Tournament. He helped Saint Joseph's improve drastically at the plate, jumping 24 points in team batting average and 19 points in team fielding percentage. Individually, Mauro developed a powerful duo at the plate in Brooke Darreff and Erika Rosenwinkel. Under Mauro's guidance, Darreff became the second Saint Joseph's player to earn Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors, while leading the A-10 and finishing fifth nationally in batting average. Making a seamless transition from catcher to outfielder under Mauro's watch, Rosenwinkel earned Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference honors in 2008 after batting a career-best .354 and leading the nation in doubles per game.

Prior to coming to Hawk Hill, Mauro worked extensively as a sought-after professional speaker and clinician. Among the many teams he has worked with, Mauro has lent his expertise to the Italian, Venezuelan and Russian national teams.

Mauro has also coached several successful junior olympics, including the 1999 ASA U-18 Gold National Championship Southern California Athletics and nationally-ranked Mater Dei High School and Mission Viejo High School squads. He began working at the collegiate level in the mid-90s, serving as assistant coach at Loyola Marymount.

A former board member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Mauro graduated summa cum laude from Grove City College in 1976. The founder and owner of GM Sports, he has helped develop numerous training products and techniques, and published several books and videos including "Having a Softball Head - A Skills Manual," "The Short Game," "19 Words to Hit By" and "Finding the Zone."