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Jody Gabriel
Former Falcon player, Jody (Porter) Gabriel, starts
her second year as an assistant fastpitch coach at UW-River Falls.
"Jody knows the UW-RF program, understands my coaching philosophy,
and is very familiar with the caliber of ball in the WIAC. Her strength
will be in working defensively with first and third base, and working
offensively with the team. Her coaching experiences and leadership will
help provide some new insight to the team," Coach Faye Perkins said.
Gabriel has most recently coached at St. Mary's, Minn., University where
the Cardinals were co-MIAC champions in 2001 and placed second in 2002.
The Cardinals placed fourth in the 2001 NCAA National Tournament. She
worked primarily with infield corners and hitters. She has also coached
at the high school and traveling levels in Hudson and Forest Lake, Minn.,
her hometown.
Gabriel competed with the Falcons from 1994-96. The 1994 team won the
WIAC title and qualified for the a NCAA Regional. The team had the second
highest grade point average in the nation. She played high school ball
at Forest Lake from 1990-92.
She earned her undergraduate degree from UW-RF in accounting in 1996
and her M.S.E. degree (social studies) from UW-RF in 2000. She is currently
teaching social studies at Hudson High School. Her husband's name is Barry
Gabriel and they have a daughter, Sydney, who was born in January of 2004.
They live in New Richmond with their two yellow labs.
Becky Ahlbrecht
Becky Ahlbrecht returns for a third year serving as an assistant coach
for the Falcons. Over the past three years Ahlbrecht's responsibilities
have included facilitating hitting practices, structuring and training
the outfielders, conducting skill specific softball clinics, and being
in charge of various recruiting duties.
Ahlbrecht continues to be heavily involved in all five areas of the Falcon
softball program. In May of 2003, Ahlbrecht graduated from UW-River Falls
with a secondary teaching degree that licenses her to teach physical and/or
health education. Currently, Ahlbrecht is substitute teaching in three
local school districts (New Richmond, River Falls, Somerset). She continues
to work toward finding a full-time teaching job in a school district.
Her long term goal is to be a head softball coach at the college level.
Ahlbrecht was in charge of the River Falls summer high school softball
traveling team in 2003.
During her senior year at UW-River Falls, she attained first team All-WIAC
honors for the West division in the spring of 2001. She earned third team
All-Great Lakes Region honors that season. She was named by her teammates
as Falcon MVP.
“Becky brings her enthusiasm and love of the game to the coaching
staff. She will primarily contribute in the hitting area, outfield defense
and coaching in the first base box. Having been a highly successful student-athlete
brings credibility and respect to her position as an assistant coach,”
Coach Faye Perkins said.
Brian Dwyer
Brian Dwyer is in his first year as an assistant coach with the Falcons.
Dwyer played semi-professional baseball in South Carolina and Virginia
where he both played and managed. His team won five division titles and
one league championship. He was named to the All-Star team as a manager/player
five times. He played the game in Germany while stationed there with the
U. S. Army. He also played high school baseball. Dwyer coached an AAU
team of 13-15 year olds and has also given private hitting and fielding
lessons. He is a student in the UWRF health & human performance department
and would like to coach at the high school or collegiate level.
“Having Brian on the coaching staff will be a great opportunity for
both the team and for Brian. “Fundamentally, there are a lot of similarities
between baseball and softball and it's good to get a fresh perspective
on things. Brian also brings his love of the game to the team and his
desire to contribute to the success of the individual and the team,”
Coach Faye Perkins said.
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Jody Gabriel
Becky Ahlbrecht
Brian Dwyer
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