Loyola softball coach picks Palatine's Pauly as assistant

Nicole Pauly, a former standout player at Northwestern and member of the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, has been named graduate assistant softball coach at Loyola, Ramblers head coach Yvette Healy announced Friday.

A native of Palatine, Pauly was a four-time All-Big Ten performer at Northwestern.

"We are honored to have an elite former student-athlete of Nicole Pauly's caliber join the Rambler softball staff," Healy said. "Nicole brings a wealth of NCAA Championship and Big Ten experience to Loyola."

Pauly concluded her collegiate career with 53 home runs, 168 RBI, 149 runs scored and a .604 slugging percentage, while starting all 215 games Northwestern played during her four years in Evanston. She signed a contract with the Bandits earlier this spring as an infielder and utility player.

Loyola finished the 2010 campaign with 22 wins and set school records for batting average (.292) and runs (202).