MIAMI (Sept. 20, 2019) - With fall ball just around the corner, FIU softball head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson announced the hiring of Jeremy Leak and Hunter Allen on Friday, as the pair of assistant coaches fill out the staff. 

Leak arrives at FIU after spending five seasons as an assistant coach with the Alabama State softball team. During his time with the Lady Hornets, Leak helped lead Alabama State to five consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship games, including winning the 2019 championship and advancing to the Tuscaloosa NCAA Regional.  

"Jeremy is a great asset to our program with his ability to work with our hitters and our pitchers.," Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "He has been a part of championships and knows how to develop pitchers who can compete at the highest level. With a background in men's fast pitch and baseball, he brings a lot of different experiences and will be a great asset to our program."

Prior to his time at Alabama State, the Ramer, Alabama native was a volunteer coach at Auburn University at Montgomery. As a 14-year serviceman in the United States Army, Leak was on the softball Army Armed Forces Team and the All-Army Team. He was a three-year letterman for varsity baseball at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama and later was a pitcher in the ASA men's fast pitch league for six years.  

"I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity to coach at FIU," Leak said. "I'd like to thank Athletic Director Pete Garcia and Assistant Athletic Director and SWA Julie Berg for allowing me to continue to work with head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson. Coach Wilcoxson's trust in my ability to get the best performance out of our pitchers and hitters has been key to the success of two conference championships and one national championship. I look forward to working with FIU softball and helping the Panthers reach new heights."

Allen, also from Alabama State, helped lead the Lady Hornets to the 2019 SWAC championship and the Tuscaloosa NCAA Regional along side Coach Steiner-Wilcoxson and Leak. The Orange City, Florida native began coaching following a successful collegiate career as a catcher for the Hornet's baseball program under current FIU baseball Coach Mervyl Melendez.

"I am very thankful to be part of the FIU family and I would like to thank Coach Steiner-Wilcoxson, Athletic Director Pete Garcia and SWA Julie Berg for the opportunity," said Allen.

Allen graduated from ASU in 2018 with a degree in criminal justice. He hit .297 as a senior and collected six home runs en route to a Second Team All-SWAC selection while playing baseball at ASU.

"Hunter is an excellent asset to our staff," said Coach Steiner-Wilcoxson. "He is a great young man and an energetic steward of the game. He will be working with our catchers and our hitters. Hunter is an all-conference catcher and is great at breaking down the game and teaching the game from a catcher's perspective. He will bring a lot of great perspective with his baseball background."

The Panthers will begin fall ball on Oct. 4 against Florida Southwestern State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET.

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