Simpson Softball Camps

Coaching Staff

Henry Christowski
Head Coach

Learn from National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Henry Christowski! Reigning Iowa Conference Coach of the Year, Henry Christowski enters his 16th season as the head coach of the Simpson softball team in 2011. Since taking over the program in 1996, Christowski is 484-141-2 (a .772 winning percentage) while leading the program to two NCAA Division III National Championships. Under Christowski’s direction, the Storm have appeared in the NCAA tournament eight times (1996-2000, 2006, 2008 and 2010), won four regional titles (1996-99) and tallied five Iowa Conference championships (1997-2000, 2010).
 
Christowski cemented his legacy as one of the top coaches in the nation with his induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in December of 2007, the NFCA’s highest honor. Along with American International College Head Coach Judy Groff and Central College head coach George Wares, the trio comprised the NFCA Hall of Fame Class of 2007.
 
Entering last season, Christowski’s winning percentage ranked sixth in the nation among active Division III coaches and fourth in the history of Division III coaching. His win total ranks 27th among active Division III coaches and is 33rd in division history, while his winning percentage is 10th best in the history of softball in all divisions. Christowski is the only coach in NCAA softball history to win at least 200 games in his first five years as a head coach (201).
 
He became the winningest coach at Simpson on March 29, 2002 when the Storm defeated Webster (Mo.) 2-0. When Simpson defeated Dubuque in game one of their April 7, 2004 doubleheader, Christowski reached the 300-win plateau faster than any other Division III coach in history, needing only 362 games to attain the mark. St. Thomas head coach John Tschida is believed to have held the old record, as Tschida won his 300th game in 366 career games in 2003. Christowski won his 400th game on March 11, 2008, a 14-0 win over Marietta.
 
Christowski and his coaching staff earned the distinction of NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year in the 1999. Additionally, his staff claimed the NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year award in 1998 and 1999. In 1997, Christowski took home NFCA Division III National Coach of the Year honors. He is a three-time IIAC Coach of they Year, winning the award in 1997, 1998 and 2010.
 
Beginning his career at Norwalk High School in 1969, Christowski led the Warriors to a 440-179 record by the time he left in 1980. During his time at the prep level, Christowski coached four Iowa High School Hall of Fame pitchers (Dowling’s Missy Allen and Norwalk’s Kris Brogan, Jeannie Christowski and Cindy Johnson).
 
Henry and his wife Patricia reside in Norwalk, Iowa.

Jill Anderson
Assistant Coach

Jill Anderson is in her 12th year as a member of the Simpson coaching staff. Anderson serves as recruiting coordinator and assists in all areas of team skill development and with softball clinics sponsored by the Storm. Coach Anderson began her career coaching as an assistant to coach Henry Christowski at Indianola High School. She went on to be an assistant coach at Norwalk High School in Norwalk, Iowa, and head coach at Sioux Center High School in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Penny Arey
Assistant Coach

Penny Arey is an 11-year veteran of the coaching staff at Simpson. Arey played for the Storm from 1980-82 and received her degree from Simpson in physical education. She is a veteran of ASA competition throughout the Des Moines area. Coach Arey is also a physical education teacher at Indianola Middle School.

Tim Bogs
Assistant Coach

Tim Bogs has been an assistant coach at Simpson for seven years. He is currently in his 13th year as head softball coach and boys track coach at I-35 High School in Truro, Iowa. His team has won four softball conference titles and participated in two state tournaments. Coach Bogs is a 1987 graduate of Simpson and received his master's degree in education from Iowa State University in 2001.

Curt Brookhart
Assistant Coach

Curt Brookhart is a 26-year veteran of fastpitch softball and joined the Simpson coaching staff nine years ago. Brookhart has coached Des Moines area ASA softball at various levels for 15 years and was president of the South Des Moines Girls Softball league.

 
Kyle Owens
Assistant Coach

Kyle Owens is in his seventh season as a member of the Storm staff. He serves as the head junior varsity coach in addition to his duties with the varsity team. A 1981 Simpson graduate, Owens lettered for Simpson in football. Owens has served as a coach with the South Des Moines Girls Softball Association, winning state championships in the U-10 and U-12 age groups. His ASA teams have also qualified for the U-10, U-12 and U-14 national tournaments.