Spitale Promoted to Assistant Coach

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Head softball coach Deanna Gumpf announced an addition to her coach staff for the upcoming season. Beginning in July, former operations specialist Jamie Spitale will take over as the third assistant coach for the University of Notre Dame softball program. Spitale has been with the program for nine seasons, working as the team’s volunteer assistant coach before transitioning to operations for the past three seasons. 

“When the NCAA approved the third assistant coach, I immediately knew I wanted to bring Jamie back into coaching.” Gumpf said, “Jamie has been an integral part of our program for nine years and I’m very excited to bring her coaching acumen into the conversation. She understands and embraces the culture we have as a softball program and a University. We’re so excited to continue to have Jamie, her husband Joe and their daughters Haley and Taylor as part of our family.”

“I’m very excited to continue to be part of this staff and get back into a coaching role.” Spitale said, “I want to thank Deanna for this opportunity to get back on the coaching side of the sport we love. Being a part of the softball program at Notre Dame is something I hold in very high regard, and to have an opportunity to impact the lives of our student-athletes is so important to me. I’m proud of what we accomplished while working in my operations role, and I’m more excited about our future with the program.”

The Fighting Irish have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each season that Spitale has been with the program. In her operations role, she facilitated team travel and meals while assisting with a variety of aspects related to coaching. 

As a volunteer coach, Spitale was part of two National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s (NFCA) Mid-Atlantic Coaching Staff of the Year awards, working with the pitching staff and helping the team host an NCAA Regional and finishing second in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. 

Prior to her time at Notre Dame, Spitale was on staff at Western Michigan University. She was an assistant coach from 2000-03 before being elevated to associate head coach in 2005 until leaving the program in 2013. During her time in Kalamazoo, she helped tutor 11 All-Mid American Conference (MAC) pitchers, including nine first team selections. 

Prior to Western Michigan, Spitale coached at Lake Michigan College from 1997-2000, helping the program earn nine all-conference awards, four All-Region honors and three All-American honors. 

Spitale, formerly Mandarino, was an All-Academic selection during her career at Lake Michigan College. She helped Lake Michigan earn an National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship in 1993, while being named All-Conference, All-Region and was a second team All-American. 

Spitale and her husband Joe have two daughters, Haley and Taylor and reside in St. Joseph. Michigan where she was inducted into St. Joseph High School’s Hall of Fame for her efforts on the softball field.