University of Memphis Athletics
VanBrakle Prothro Announces Hiring of Tommy Santiago
Oct 20, 2022 | Softball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Head Memphis Tiger softball coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro has announced the hiring of Tommy Santiago as an assistant coach.
"I am excited to have Tommy join our staff here at Memphis," said VanBrakle Prothro. "He brings great experience within our conference and to the program. I look forward to working alongside him and for our athletes to learn more about the game from him."
Santiago comes to Memphis after a second stint at South Florida where he served as an assistant coach and worked primarily with infielders, outfielders and hitters. He also served as the Recruiting Coordinator for the Bulls program.
"First and foremost, I would like to thank Stephanie for allowing me to continue my passion in coaching; I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I am excited to see what the future brings for this program," said Santiago. "I would also like to thank everybody who has helped me on this journey including my wife, Whitney, my daughter, Izabella, and my family and friends."
Santiago, who took ahold of USF's defense in the 2022 season, helped to increase the team's fielding percentage while leading the American Athletic Conference and ranking in the Top-50 in the country for fielding percentage.
During the shortened 2020 season, Santiago and the team played just 25 games but helped lead the program to a 16-9 record. The Bulls would boost their batting average and OPS.
Before rejoining USF in July 2015, Santiago served as an assistant coach at Jacksonville University for the 2019 season and spent two years with Crossfit Lutz as a private hitting and fielding instructor.
Santiago spent one season with the Terapins of Maryland as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator where he helped the team to a 27-win season, an improvement of 16 wins from the year before.
Prior to joining Maryland, Santiago served as an assistant coach at St. John's for three seasons. While with the Red Storm, Santiago helped the team reach the Big East Championship game in the 2014 season for just the second time in program history.
Under Santiago's run, St. John's improved its fielding percentage each season while capping out at a .961 clip in 2014 while turning 27 double plays and ranking seventh in Division I. In his first season with the Red Storm, the team jumped 20 points in their fielding percentage.
Santiago got his start in Division I at ACC powerhouse Florida State where he served as an assistant coach from August 2008-11. While there, FSU went on to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and earned the AAC Conference Title in the 2011 season. In his role, Santiago served as camp director, worked with the infield and outfield, prepared scouting reports and set up defensive alignments for the Seminoles.
Santiago began his collegiate coaching career during the 2007 season where he was an assistant coach at South Suburban Junior College in South Holland, Ill. He also served as the tournament director for the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic Tournament at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas from 2005-07.
Santiago earned his associate's degree in physical education from Parkland College in 2000 before receiving his bachelor's degree in exercise science and sports medicine from Campbellsville in 2003. Santiago then spent four years as the head baseball coach for Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Ill. In that role, he guided 22 student-athletes to collegiate scholarships from Division I, II, II, NAIA, and NJCAA programs around the nation. Also during that time, Santiago served as a hitting and fielding instructor at Diamond Sports Academy in nearby Mokena, Ill.
Santiago played a year of professional baseball for the River City Rascals of the Frontier League after a successful college career. He was a Second Team All-Conference selection at Parkland College before transferring to Campbellsville University, where he also garnered Second Team All-Conference recognition.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"I am excited to have Tommy join our staff here at Memphis," said VanBrakle Prothro. "He brings great experience within our conference and to the program. I look forward to working alongside him and for our athletes to learn more about the game from him."
Santiago comes to Memphis after a second stint at South Florida where he served as an assistant coach and worked primarily with infielders, outfielders and hitters. He also served as the Recruiting Coordinator for the Bulls program.
"First and foremost, I would like to thank Stephanie for allowing me to continue my passion in coaching; I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I am excited to see what the future brings for this program," said Santiago. "I would also like to thank everybody who has helped me on this journey including my wife, Whitney, my daughter, Izabella, and my family and friends."
Santiago, who took ahold of USF's defense in the 2022 season, helped to increase the team's fielding percentage while leading the American Athletic Conference and ranking in the Top-50 in the country for fielding percentage.
During the shortened 2020 season, Santiago and the team played just 25 games but helped lead the program to a 16-9 record. The Bulls would boost their batting average and OPS.
Before rejoining USF in July 2015, Santiago served as an assistant coach at Jacksonville University for the 2019 season and spent two years with Crossfit Lutz as a private hitting and fielding instructor.
Santiago spent one season with the Terapins of Maryland as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator where he helped the team to a 27-win season, an improvement of 16 wins from the year before.
Prior to joining Maryland, Santiago served as an assistant coach at St. John's for three seasons. While with the Red Storm, Santiago helped the team reach the Big East Championship game in the 2014 season for just the second time in program history.
Under Santiago's run, St. John's improved its fielding percentage each season while capping out at a .961 clip in 2014 while turning 27 double plays and ranking seventh in Division I. In his first season with the Red Storm, the team jumped 20 points in their fielding percentage.
Santiago got his start in Division I at ACC powerhouse Florida State where he served as an assistant coach from August 2008-11. While there, FSU went on to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and earned the AAC Conference Title in the 2011 season. In his role, Santiago served as camp director, worked with the infield and outfield, prepared scouting reports and set up defensive alignments for the Seminoles.
Santiago began his collegiate coaching career during the 2007 season where he was an assistant coach at South Suburban Junior College in South Holland, Ill. He also served as the tournament director for the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic Tournament at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas from 2005-07.
Santiago earned his associate's degree in physical education from Parkland College in 2000 before receiving his bachelor's degree in exercise science and sports medicine from Campbellsville in 2003. Santiago then spent four years as the head baseball coach for Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Ill. In that role, he guided 22 student-athletes to collegiate scholarships from Division I, II, II, NAIA, and NJCAA programs around the nation. Also during that time, Santiago served as a hitting and fielding instructor at Diamond Sports Academy in nearby Mokena, Ill.
Santiago played a year of professional baseball for the River City Rascals of the Frontier League after a successful college career. He was a Second Team All-Conference selection at Parkland College before transferring to Campbellsville University, where he also garnered Second Team All-Conference recognition.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tiger Softball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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