Lou Rizzuti enters his second season as assistant coach for the Beavers in 2018.
Since his arrival, BVU has posted consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time since 1998-99 and has made the Iowa Conference Tournament both years. He's also had a hand in making BVU one of the biggest power threats in the conference. It set a school record with 23 home runs in 2017.
He brings over 15 years of experience to BVU. He spent one year at Grand View University, 10 years at Missouri Western State University, and 14 seasons at Dowling Catholic High School.
In 2016 at Grand View University, the Vikings compiled a 43-11 overall record, finished 2nd in the regular season standings in their debut as a part of the Heart of America Athletics Conference and won the HAA Conference Tournament. As tournament champions, they automatically qualified for the NAIA National Championship. Lou helped coach six Vikings to All-Conference honors, six NAIA Softball Scholar-Athletes, and two All-Americans in just one year.
During his time at MWSU, the Griffons compiled a 383-196 overall record and were MIAA conference regular season champions in 2011, and in 2014 they were MIAA Conference Tournament Champions. The Griffons appeared in six NCAA regional tournaments during his time. Lou also helped coach four players to All-American status and various athletes to All-Conference and All-Region status.
Lou also coached 14 seasons at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. As an assistant coach, Lou helped DCHS qualify for the state tournament nine times, with two state championships and a handful of top five finishes.
Lou resides in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife Jackie and they have two grown children, James and Lindsay.
