TOLEDO, Ohio – University of Toledo head softball coach Jessica Bracamonte announced on Wednesday that Jon Gwizdala will join the Rockets as an assistant coach, filling the final position on her staff. Gwizdala, who will serve as the Rockets' pitching coach, comes to Toledo after serving as an assistant coach at Western Michigan this past season.

"It's no secret that winning starts in the circle, so this search was very important to me and one I did not take lightly," said Bracamonte, who was named Toledo's head coach in June. "Our pitching staff deserves the very best coach I could find, and I am excited to announce that Jon is exactly that. He is knowledgeable about the game of fastpitch as a player and coach, and I am looking forward to his ability to connect with our players in order to bring the best out of them on and off the field. His passion and excitement about wanting to be a part of what our vision is for the program separated him throughout this process. He has made significant impacts on different pitching staffs that he has worked with, and I am excited to watch him help take our pitchers to the next level. It is evident that his commitment to pursuing a career in coaching in order to work with and impact the lives of young women is second to none, and I am so excited to watch how that commitment inspires those around him."

Gwizdala began his collegiate career in 2010 as a pitcher for Delta College, a junior college in University Center, Mich. During his freshman year, he was president of the school's club baseball program, pitching and playing first base. As a sophomore, Gwizdala was named captain for the inaugural varsity season and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. Gwizdala became a volunteer assistant coach for Delta softball in 2013 and again in 2016. He completed his undergraduate degree at Central Michigan University and he served as a practice player for the Chippewas' softball team in 2014 where he worked with Bracamonte, who was an assistant coach for CMU at the time. 

Before his Mid-American Conference coaching career began, Gwizdala served as the assistant softball coach at Davenport University from 2019-21. While on staff, he helped develop pitchers Emma Miller (first team) and Ellie Muilenburg (second team) to all-conference honors in 2021. Gwizdala was also the camp and events coordinator at Davenport.

Gwizdala spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach at Western Michigan, working with the Broncos' pitching staff. Under Gwizdala's guidance, the Broncos improved their strikeout total, ERA, and WHIP from the previous season. Senior pitcher Riley Galloway broke the school single-season strikeout record (267) en route to a First-Team All-MAC selection.

Gwizdala's coaching resume also includes being an instructor at Diamonds Sports Training in Grand Rapids, Mich. and at the Great Lakes Baseball Softball Hitting Club in Saginaw, Mich. from 2010-16. He went on to become an assistant director of scouting for RISE Softball Midwest Region in Midland, Mich. from 2017-19. While at RISE, he managed media relations, disseminating information about events, and promotion, and assisted in the recruitment of 84 high school athletes who went on to play college  softball. 

Gwizdala was a member of the USA Men's National Softball Team. The team participated in and finished fifth at the 2019 World Tournament in Prague, Czech Republic. Gwizdala also traveled to the 2019 WBSC World Championships in Prague and the Pan American games in Lima, Peru with the Silver Medal winning Team USA.

Originally from Bay City, Mich., Gwizdala earned an associates degree in science from Delta in 2013, a bachelor's degree in exercise science from CMU in 2016, and a Teacher's Certification in science and physical education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2018.