NACC's Kolaitis ‘grateful’ for latest opportunity to coach with USA Softball

Jimmy Kolaitis says softball has created many special moments and opportunities for him throughout his coaching career. 

One of those is the chance to coach for his country, something the current Northeast Alabama Community College athletic director/assistant softball coach recently did for USA Softball.

Kolaitis served as the pitching coach for the U.S. Men's National Team (MNT) during the 2026 Pan American Championships Feb. 21-28 in Montería, Colombia.

It was Kolaitis' fourth USA Softball coaching assignment in the past three years. He was part of the coaching staff for the 2023 U.S. Girls U-15 team that won a gold medal at the 2023 World Baseball Softball Confederation World Cup (WBSC) in Japan. He was also on the staff for the 2024 U.S. Women's silver-medal team at the WBSC World Championship in Italy and for the U.S. Women's Team during the Canada Cup.

It was Kolaitis' first opportunity to coach one of USA Softball's men's teams.

"Anytime I'm able to do something like USA Softball, I'm grateful. It's an honor," Kolaitis said. "Nobody could tell me if there's been another coach that's coached with the men's and women's teams. Having the opportunity to do both is pretty special. It's always special when you get to be around elite athletes, men or women. You get to see how they think, how they act, how they approach the game. It makes me a better coach. The men's and women's game is slightly different, but it's still relatable to the players you coach. Having the opportunity to do that and learn has been important to me."

Despite missing several key players, the U.S. Men's National Team closed out the 2026 Pan American Championship with a 6-4 record to secure fifth place and clinch a spot in the 2028 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men's World Cup Group Stage.

"The No. 1 goal was to qualify and give ourselves a chance when they have the Pan-Am games and the World Championships," Kolaitis said. "We were able to put some of our younger guys and older guys together, put a solid team together and we went out there and competed."

Kolaitis was hired as NACC's athletic director in Aug. 2024 and oversees the college's men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's track and field and E-sports programs. The Auburn native is a former UAB head softball coach and has held assistant-coaching roles at Arizona State, Oregon and South Alabama while also coaching for the Greek National Softball Team and at the professional level for the Chicago Bandits and the Scrapyard Dawgs. He is in his second season as an assistant coach for head coach Joe Guthrie and the NACC softball program, which is currently 19-1 on the season and ranked No. 3 in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division I national rankings.

Kolaitis said he hopes to earn more coaching opportunities with USA Softball in the future.

"Anytime I go out there I represent our country and USA Softball, but also what I'm doing here at Northeast. Being able to tie those in is special," Kolaitis said. "I know when I go out there, I'm representing what we do here at Northeast Alabama and what (NACC President) Dr. (David) Campbell is doing. I wouldn't have had this opportunity if Dr. Campbell hadn't allowed me to do it. He's one of my biggest supporters when it comes to this and I'm very appreciative for the opportunity. It's pretty humbling. I'm just grateful."