softball coach profile

In his tenure at Prairie State College, which dates back to the early 1980s, Marty Mears has been a student‑athlete, adjunct faculty member, Fitness Center employee, scorers table staff worker for basketball and volleyball as well as an assistant softball coach.  Mears has added another responsibility to the list as he was named head softball coach in November 2009.

PSC produced a season for the ages during the 2011 campaign, Mears’ second as head coach.

The Pioneers collected a school-record 26 wins and advanced to the NJCAA Region IV semifinals for the first time in program history.

Mears was also responsible for the postseason accolades awarded to sophomore Jaleesha Conner, the Pioneers’ lone All-Region IV selection. Conner also was selected to the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference First Team. 

Sophomore’s Kristen Hensen and Sam Contreras, along with freshman Andrea Marganski were all first-team All-Skyway picks. Freshman Nina Savaglio made the all-league second team.

In Mears’ first year at the helm, the Pioneers produced a 14-35 record.

Mears joined the Prairie State coaching staff in 2009 under former head coach Nicole Ashmon.

Although their record may not have been an indicator, the Pioneers did indeed have a highly successful season in 2010.

Under Mears’ tutelage, five players (Samantha Baumgartner, Linnea Lones, Kristen Hensen, Samantha Contreras and Andrea Harte) were selected to the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Team.

Baumgartner took her post season accolades one step further, earning a spot on the NJCAA All-Region IV squad.

Mears, a native of Virginia, played one year of basketball at PSC.  After earning his Associates degree, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education at Chicago State University.  He later received a Master’s degree and Type 75 Administration Certificate from Governors State University.

In addition to his Prairie State responsibilities, Mears teaches physical education in Oak Lawn.  He also coached the Oak Lawn‑Hometown Middle School girls basketball team.

“Marty has a lot of knowledge about the game and was a great asset to us last year as an assistant,” Prairie State Director of Physical Education and Athletics, Ed Schaffer said. “He is very passionate about coaching and helping our players reach their full potential.”

Mears lives in Richton Park.  He has a 14‑year‑old daughter, Kiersten.

With nearly two decades of coaching experience under his belt, Dan Corradetti will once again bring his wealth of expertise to the Prairie State College softball program in 2011.

A former Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, Corradetti spent 17 years coaching at the club level for the Flossmoor Hurricanes. Fifteen of those years were spent on the organization’s board of commissioners.

The Chicago Heights native and 1970 graduate of Marian Catholic High School serves primarily as the Pioneers’ pitching coach.

Corradetti helped the Pioneers compile a school-record 26 wins 2011 and was an instrumental force in helping them advanced to the NJCAA Region IV semifinals for the first time in program history.

A strong all-around athlete, Corradetti was a three-sport star for the Spartans, making substantial contributions on the football field, baseball diamond and wrestling mat.

Corradetti helped lead Marian Catholic to the Illini Eight Conference football title in 1969 and was also the conference’s 127-pound wrestling champion during his junior campaign.

Following graduation from Marian Catholic, Corradetti served a three-year stint in the Marine Corps, where he was both a starting shortstop and defensive back on the First Marine Division’s fast-pitch softball and football squads, respectively.

Following his time in the armed-forces, Corradetti attended Illinois State University before embarking on a 30-year career as a member of the Chicago Heights Fire Department.

Corradetti’s athletic career didn’t end once his Marine Corps days were behind him either.

An avid weight-lifter, Corradetti, after hanging up his cleats, turned his attention to competitive lifting and found an astonishing amount of success.

In 2003 Corradetti set a world record on the bench press (413 pounds) in the 50 and over division of the American Amateur Power Lifting Federation that still stands today.

A three-time state bench-pressing champ, Corradetti also earned a national title in that lift as well.

Corradetti’s coaching file is also quite impressive.

As head coach of the Hurricanes’ 10-and-under team, Corradetti took his squad to the 1998 Pony League Nationals.

He was also the 2003 Fordan Award recipient for Flossmoor Baseball and Softball.

Corradetti’s coaching experience isn’t just limited to the softball diamond.

The resident of Chicago Heights also coached fourth through eighth-grade basketball and volleyball for 12 years. 

Just one season removed from a stellar playing career at Prairie State, Kristen Hensen will make her collegiate coaching debut during the 2012 campaign as an assistant on head coach Marty Mears’ staff.

Hensen played a major role in the Pioneers’ breakout season of 2011, a campaign in which PSC posted its first winning record in program history, following a 26-23 record.

The left-handed throwing and hitting Hensen made strong contributions as both a starting pitcher and outfielder during her two seasons in Chicago Heights. 

A .335 lifetime hitter, Hensen, who collected 91 career hits, also drove in 52 runs over the course of her two seasons at PSC.

After turning in a freshman campaign which saw her produce a .305 batting average with 20 RBIs and 16 runs, Hensen turned in an even stronger showing in her final year at PSC.

Hensen hit .355 as a sophomore with 32 RBIs, 11 doubles, one triple and a home run.

Those efforts helped land her a spot on the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Second Team.

Hensen also found success in the circle, posting a 16-15 career record for the Pioneers, with 14 of her wins coming in 2011.

Hensen also produced in the classroom as well, earning a spot on the Skyway Academic All-Conference Team as well.

A 2009 graduate of Beecher High School, Hensen helped the Ladycats earn the 2007 IHSA Class A state softball championship.

Hensen is currently a student at the University of Illinois-Chicago.