Bradenton, Fla - The SCF softball team have made changes in their coaching staff as they welcome Brett Sauerwein as the new head coach. Sauerwein joins the Manatees after spending the previous season as the assistant at McKendree University (NCAA DII) in O'Fallon, Illinois and will be the second male head coach in SCF softball program history (Jeffery Roberts, 1999-2007). Additionally, former local softball product Auria Mounts will join the Manatees as Sauerwein's assistant coach and the athletics specialist after previously serving as the assistant softball coach at Palmetto High School.
"I'm excited to bring in someone of Brett's caliber," said athletic director Nick Cichielo. "He's a phenomenal person and really connected to Florida. I feel very confident that he'll take this program to the next level...I'm excited to bring him on and can't wait for him to get started."
A native of Troy, Illinois, Sauerwein graduated from McKendree University where he graduated with his bachelor's in leadership in sports and exercise science and became a graduate assistant (2015) before receiving his master's degree in sports management at Missouri Baptist University (NAIA) where he became an assistant coach for the varsity squad as well as the head coach for the junior varsity squad for the Spartans while piling on 80+ wins, which included a school record 31 wins in 2017.
Sauerwein would then make the move to southwest Florida as he became assistant coach for Ave Maria University (NAIA) for the next three seasons (2019-21) before taking a position as assistant coach for Florida Southwestern (FSW) where he helped the Buccaneers to win back-to-back NJCAA JUCO Softball World Series Championships.
After two seasons with the Buccaneers, Sauerwein would return to his alma mater McKendree where he would help the Bearcats to the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournamant (GLVC) this past season.
"First off, I want to thank Nick (Cichielo) for believing in me to usher this program into a new era," said Sauerwein. "Florida JUCO softball holds a very special place in my heart and I'm very excited to lead this program to national prominence. The goal for the program is to play a fast paced and fundementally sound brand of softball and I'm excited to get on campus and get to work."
A local native from Bradenton, Florida, Mounts graduated from Palmetto High School in 2015 where she was named on the Manatee/Sarasota County All-Area Team. Following two years on varsity for the Tigers, Mounts would enroll at Indian River State to start her collegiate softball career where she played as a pitcher and utility player for the Pioneers. There, she went 17-6 overall with a 3.92 ERA, 37 walks and 116 strikeouts in 131 innings, while at the plated she batted .301 with 89 hits, 82 runs, 14 home runs, 92 RBI, 42 walks and 31 stolen bases while being named to the then All-Southern Conference First Team and the FCSAA All-State Team (2016 first team, 2017 second team) twice.
Following her graduation from Indian River State, Mounts enrolled at Saint Leo University (NCAA DII) with her last two years of eligibility where she played primarily as a pitcher for the Lions. There she finished her career at 29-15 with a 2.46 ERA, five saves, 91 walks and 187 strikeouts in 293 innings while helping them to the 2018 NCAA DII Softball Championship Semifinals.
Following the end of her softball playing career, Mounts would become the assistant coach at her alma mater, Palmetto High School, in 2023 where she helped the Tigers to an appearance in the FHSAA 6A State Tournament.
Sauerwein and Mounts will look to guide the Manatees to the postseason for 2025 under their new leadership.
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