Iowa City Regina tabs Jake Koolbeck to keep it clicking

IOWA CITY — This isn't a building job. Or a rebuilding job.

Jake Koolbeck has been hired as the head softball coach at Iowa City Regina, the defending Class 2A state champion.

'The goals aren't going to change,' he said Wednesday morning. 'We expect to be right there, competing for a championship again.'

Koolbeck, 27, is in his third year on Diane Meyer's staff at Coe College. He will remain as an assistant there.

He served as an assistant at Solon in 2012 and at Clear Creek Amana in 2013.

'I'm thankful for (athletics director) Ryan (O'Hern) and the the board for this opportunity,' Koolbeck said. 'I'm ready to get to work.'

Regina returns eight starters from last year's title team, which outlasted Eddyville EBF in 16 innings in the 2A final. Koolbeck succeeds Jon Prottsman, who announced his resignation in November. Prottsman coached the Regals to titles in 2011, 2015 and 2017.

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