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The University of Iowa softball team’s coaching staff is committed to excellence on and off the diamond. The coaching staff brings experience, personality, and a winning culture to Iowa City.
Head Coach Stacy May-Johnson Opens in a new window
Stacy May-Johnson is in her first season as the head softball coach at University of Iowa. The former Hawkeye player and assistant coach is the sixth head coach in program history. May-Johnson played at Iowa from 2003-06, where she was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and the 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In 2003, May-Johnson was a part of the Big Ten regular season and tournament championship teams. She still ranks in the top 15 in program history in career games played, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs and batting average. She also served as both a student assistant (2007) and assistant coach (2011-14) with the Hawkeyes. May-Johnson returns to Iowa City with nearly 20 years of coaching experience, including head coaching stints at Fresno State (2022-25) and Utah Valley (2020-21). She was associate head coach at Eastern Kentucky (2018-19), an assistant at Purdue (2017), Louisville (2015-16) and Iowa (2011-14) and a volunteer assistant at Louisville (2008-10).
Head Coach Stacy May-Johnson Opens in a new windowAssistant Coach Bobby Alvara Opens in a new window
Bobby Alvara was named an assistant coach on June 12, 2025 Alvara joins the Hawkeyes after three seasons at Fresno State where he served as the recruiting coordinator and assisted with the pitching staff under May-Johnson. During his time in Fresno, Alvara saw the Bulldogs improve their win total year-over-year, notching 93 victories in three seasons. In 2025, he helped Fresno to 37 wins and to the Mountain West Championship title game. In his tenure, he lowered the team ERA each season finishing with a conference leading 2.78 in 2025. Alvara coached the 2024 and 2025 Mountain West Pitchers of the Year. Prior to Fresno State, Alvara saw success as a high school assistant coach in California where he led teams to three CIF Championships in seven seasons. Alvara has over 10 years of professional playing experience. Most recently, he led the Grass Valley Greens to the 2024 North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) National Championship (A Division), where he went 5-0 in the circle and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Pitcher.
Assistant Coach Bobby Alvara Opens in a new windowAssistant Coach Fran Strub Opens in a new window
Fran Strub was named assistant coach on June 24, 2025 Strub joins the Hawkeyes after four seasons at Boise State where she served primarily as the defensive coach and assisted with hitters. In her four seasons as the defensive coach, Strub helped the Broncos to higher than a .960 fielding percentage each season. The Broncos set a school record for fielding percentage (.983) and ranked first nationally for fewest errors committed (24) in 2022. In 2023, Boise State captured the regular season Mountain West title while breaking the program record for home runs (81), on-base percentage (.418) and slugging percentage (.567). During her tenure at Boise State, Strub coached two Mountain West Freshman of the Year, one Player of the Year, 23 all-conference honorees, 19 NFCA all-region honorees and two freshman all-Americans. Prior to Boise State, Strub served as a volunteer assistant (2018, 20-21) and student assistant (2017) at her alma mater, Northwestern.
Assistant Coach Fran Strub Opens in a new windowAssistant Coach Ally Miklesh Opens in a new window
Ally Miklesh was named an assistant coach on June 30, 2025. Miklesh comes to Iowa City after one season as an assistant coach at Indiana. In Bloomington, she worked primarily with the hitters and outfielders. Miklesh helped Indiana to an NCAA Regional appearance and coached two all-Big Ten selections, six NFCA all-region selections and one All-American. Prior to Indiana, Miklesh coached at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2024 where she helped the team to a 32-9 record and its first NCAA Regional appearance since 2007. Miklesh also served as an MLB regional scout for the Colorado Rockies in 2025. Miklesh played collegiately at Wisconsin (2019-22) and Clemson (2023). She earned second team all-Big Ten honors and NFCA all-region honors in 2022. At Clemson, she earned third team all-ACC honors and helped the Tigers to a Super Regional appearance.
Assistant Coach Ally Miklesh Opens in a new window