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.
