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Meet the Coaches
Van Zanic - Head Coach
For the past nine seasons, Van Zanic has handled the head coaching duties for Geneva’s softball team. During his tenure, Geneva has won more games than in any other nine year stretch in school history. With a career mark of 250-159, Zanic has won more games than any other softball coach in school history.
Last season, Zanic led Geneva to a 27-13 record, marking the seventh consecutive season that the Golden Tornadoes reached at least 25 victories. In doing so, Geneva also advanced to the NCCAA national tournament for the third time under Zanic’s leadership.
Zanic began his coaching career at Geneva as an assistant during the years of 2000 and 2001. He was hired as Geneva’s full-time sports information director in 1998, a position that he still holds along with his coaching duties.
Zanic has led the Golden Tornadoes to the post-season in seven of his nine years, including three regional tournament appearances and three NCCAA national tournament stints. During the first nine years at the helm, 43 student-athletes honored with All-Conference recognition. In addition, 26 student-athletes have received academic honors, while eight players have been named NCCAA All-Americans. “I think more than anything else that we have accomplished, I am most proud of the work that has been done in the classroom,” Zanic said. “Our ladies are dedicated student-athletes, who take great pride in their academic career. This fall our women registered a 3.3 team GPA, which is a great testament to the dedication our ladies have in the classroom.”
A Geneva graduate himself, Zanic completed his studies at Geneva in 1992 with a degree in Broadcast Communications. While with the Golden Tornadoes, Zanic spent four years playing baseball. A four-year starter at Geneva, he helped guide Geneva to four consecutive post-season appearances.
Zanic started his coaching career at the high school level as an assistant at Woodland Hills High School in the mid-90’s, alongside his father George Zanic. During his three years as an assistant, Woodland Hills qualified for the WPIAL play-offs in each of those seasons.
Zanic returned to his alma mater six years after graduating and has never looked back. “It is been a true blessing to be at Geneva,” said Zanic. “I am truly enjoying this opportunity to coach these young ladies every day. If anything else, they certainly keep you young.” Zanic and his wife Rebecca reside on College Hill with their two children, Zach (12) and Lexi (7).
Contact Coach Zanic by email at vgzanic@geneva.edu.
Tiffany Caldwell
Tiffany Caldwell played four seasons for the Geneva College softball team from 2001-2004. Caldwell returned to her roots prior to the 2010 season and is set to coach her third season alongside Zanic in the dugout.
During her years at Geneva College, Caldwell was awarded the athletic director’s scholar-athlete award as well as receiving American Mideast Conference All-Scholar team honors. After graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Geneva in 2004, Caldwell continued her education at James Madison University where she was magna cum laude with a Master’s of Art in Teaching degree. She also spent five years teaching special education children in different stints throughout the state of Virginia.
Caldwell returned to Pennsylvania in August of 2008 to take a job with the Ridgway School District. Recently, Caldwell took her current position with the Avonworth School District as a life skills teacher and transition coordinator.
During her time in Virginia, Caldwell served as the assistant varsity softball coach for Harrisonburg High School in Harrisonburg, VA.
Caldwell is engaged and will be married this upcoming summer.
Samantha Bautista
After a successful four-year career on the field for the Golden Tornadoes, Samantha Bautista is set to begin her first year of college coaching as an assistant for the Golden Tornadoes. Holding down a starting outfield spot for Geneva for each of the past four years, Bautista was a big part of one of the winningest senior classes in school history while also helping the 2011 Golden Tornadoes to a fourth place finish at the NCCAA national tournament.
A native of California, Bautista graduated from Geneva last year with a degree in Accounting. Her main responsibility in 2012 will be to impart her outfield knowledge to a group of new faces patrolling the outfield.
Bautista is also working as a waitress during the spring month while getting the opportunity to coach at the college level for the first time.