News Article

FSW Names Powell Assistant Softball Coach

Aug 3, 2015

Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Head Softball Coach Robert Iamurri has named Karla Powell the team’s Assistant Softball Coach.

“Karla brings valuable experience as a top Big Ten softball player and the experience of coaching to our team,” said Iamurri. “She will make an immediate impact on this team.”

“I am very excited to start this new journey at Florida Southwestern. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to be part of a brand new program and to be able to say that you were the first assistant coach in school history,” said Powell, a former Wisconsin standout. “I come to work getting to do what I am passionate about, meaning that I get to teach young girls the sport I love, assist them to grow not only as softball players, but as young ladies as well.”

A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Powell finished her career on Wisconsin’s all-time list second in walks (72), eighth in career home runs (15) and 10th in RBIs with 72. She earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior in 2011 when she batted .313 and led the Badgers in home runs (9), slugging percentage (.569) and doubles (10). Powell was also named Wisconsin’s Most Inspirational Player in 2012. Powell graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Before arriving at Florida Southwestern, Karla was the head assistant at St. Johns River State College (SJRSC) in Palatka, FL. Powell was in charge of all hitting, defense, and recruiting.  She helped lead the Vikings to their program’s best record in school history, 33-22, and reaching the state tournament for the first time in five years.  The Vikings also made an appearance in the top 25 in the country during their record breaking season in late March, along with ending the season 18th in the country in stolen bases (117). 

Before Powell was an assistant at SJR State, she was the volunteer softball coach at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. during the 2013-2014 seasons. In addition, Powell served as a student assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin from 2012-2013, when the Badgers won the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA Regionals with a 44-13 overall record. Powell worked extensively with Wisconsin’s hitters and infielders, helped develop practice plans and analyzed film.

Powell has also served as a camp instructor at Replay Hitting, the Diamond Elite Baseball & Softball Academy in Sterling, VA, as well as USA Preps Powered by Mizuno in Fresno, CA, and Chicago. IL.

A native of Ashburn, VA, Powell was a three-time Washington Post All-Met first-team selection and an ESPN High School All-American out of Broad Run High School, the top high school team in the nation in 2008.

Last Updated: August 3, 2015