Tina DeAngelo has more than 20 years of coaching and pitching instruction experience in both collegiate and high school softball. DeAngelo is a former standout pitcher at Drake who returned to her alma mater in 2014 as a volunteer assistant coach. Head coach Rich Calvert promoted her to an assistant coach position prior to the 2015 season.
DeAngelo, who works with Drake's pitchers, has been instrumental in their success, including former Bulldog great Nicole Newman. Newman had an amazing final season for Drake in 2019 winning a program-record 29 games. She became just the second Missouri Valley Conference pitcher to win three MVC Pitcher of the Year awards with her 2019 hardware. Newman was one of the best pitchers in the nation, leading the country in strikeouts and throwing an NCAA Division I single-season record five perfect games. She was recognized for her success by being named to the 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America First Team, Drake's first-ever selection. Newman became the first-ever Drake and MVC player selected in the National Professional Fastpitch League when she was drafted No. 13 by the Aussie Peppers. Newman was also named a finalist for the prestigious 2019 USA Softball NCAA Player of the Year award. Newman graduated as Drake's all-time wins leader, the school and MVC career leader in strikeouts and a four-time All-MVC First Team choice.
Sophomore Nicole Timmons, who won 14 games, had a great season in the circle as well in 2019. Timmons tossed two no-hitters on her way to being named to the All-MVC Second Team for the second-straight season. Newman and Timmons helped Drake become the first program to sweep back-to-back MVC regular season and tournament titles. The duo also helped the Bulldogs earn their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Newman and Timmons teamed up to help Drake have a banner season in 2018. Drake won a school-record 45 games as Newman won 22 games and Timmons 14. Newman was the MVC Pitcher of the Year, an NFCA Third-Team All-American and an NCAA Eugene Regional Selection. Timmons was named to the All-MVC Second Team and joined Newman on the regional team.
Rebekah Schmidt and Newman had outstanding seasons in the circle in 2015. Schmdit was named the 2015 MVC Pitcher of the Year while Newman was the MVC Freshman of the Year. Newman followed her freshman of the year award with being named the MVC Pitcher of the Year in 2016.
DeAngelo was a standout pitcher at Drake from 1992-95 and led the Bulldogs to two consecutive Missouri Valley Conference titles in 1993 and 1994. She helped Drake earn its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1994, and for the second straight year was named the MVC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was selected to the All-MVC Second Team in 1993 and to the All-MVC First Team in 1995.
Her husband, Jamie DeAngelo, played quarterback for the Drake football team from 1990-94. The couple have five children. Four sons, Dominic, who played football at North Central College in Illinois; Dawson, who plays baseball at North Central; Drake who is a student at Drake and is the softball team's student manager and Dylan. They have one daughter, Delaney.
Formerly Zuccolo, she graduated as the second-winningest pitcher in school history, and her name is still found in several all-time pitching statistical categories. She graduated from Drake with a degree in elementary education.
