Jim Koltes

Varsity Head Coach

Jim Koltes has much to celebrate as a coach, mentor, and educator. The 2025–26 school year marks his 30th year as a District 279 Health and Physical Education teacher, 29 years coaching high school softball, and 30 years coaching hockey. Coach Koltes has spent 25 years as the Head Varsity Softball Coach at Maple Grove and recently completed his 14th year as the Maple Grove Girls Varsity Hockey Coach. He is proud to be part of the Crimson Softball program and its many accomplishments, including 7 NWSC titles, 9 state tournament appearances, 4 state championship game appearances, and the 2019 AAAA State Championship.

In addition to his work with Maple Grove Softball, Jim spent 4 years as the 9th‑grade head coach at Northview Junior High School. During the summer, he enjoys umpiring and has spent the past 9 years coaching with the Midwest Speed Softball Club.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Jim attended Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and graduated from St. Cloud State University. He is married to his wife, Becky. Their son, Ian, is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, and their daughter, Cate, is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Coach Koltes’ favorite song is “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison. “It is the one thing I can guarantee in this life that if I am at an event with my wife and this song comes on, she will find me and want to dance. I love that I can always count on it."

Pam Hennen

Varsity Assistant Coach

Pam Hennen is the Varsity Assistant Coach for Maple Grove Softball and a retired MGHS Biology teacher, having concluded her teaching career in 2020. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she attended Robbinsdale High School, where she made history as the leadoff batter on the school’s first‑ever softball team…and struck out.

Pam continued her softball career at North Hennepin Community College and Mankato State University. She has accumulated 42 years of softball coaching experience, along with 12 years as a head cross country coach and an assortment of junior high sports. Before joining Maple Grove, she spent 14 seasons at Park Center High School, winning 7 Section Championships and helping build the conference’s first softball field with dugouts.

In 2010, Coach Hennen was inducted into the Minnesota High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and is also a National Girls and Women in Sports Breaking Barriers Award winner. Outside of coaching, she enjoys running, fitness, and paddling as part of a Dragon Boat racing team.

Kurt Maus

Varsity Assistant Coach

Kurt Maus is the Varsity Assistant Softball Coach for Maple Grove Softball and a Physical Education teacher at Maple Grove Middle School. A graduate of Park Center High School, he went on to earn his degree from Mankato State University. Coach Maus brings an impressive 39 years of high school coaching experience across boys and girls soccer, basketball, and softball.

Kurt is married to his wife, Patty, and they have two children, Blake and Haley. Fun fact: his daughter Haley is the JV Assistant Coach for Maple Grove Softball. In his free time, Coach Maus enjoys spending time outdoors, especially at his cabin near Garrison, Minnesota!

Coach Maus can’t help but sing along to Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and Blake Shelton’s “Ol’ Red.”

Joe Head

JV Head Coach

Joe Head serves as the JV Head Coach for Maple Grove Softball. He is in his 20th season with the Crimson and his 9th season coaching with the Midwest Speed Softball Club. Coach Head brings extensive multi‑sport coaching experience, including 24 years of girls hockey at Park Center High School, Champlin Park High School, and currently Maple Grove, as well as 11 years of football coaching at Osseo High School. He attended Park Center High School and graduated from the University of Minnesota.

Joe is in his 24th year of teaching physical education, currently serving at Park Center High School. Joe lives with his wife, Gwen, and their Boston Terrier, Louie.

Haley Walters

JV Assistant Coach 

Haley Walters is the JV Assistant Coach for Maple Grove Softball. This season marks her 6th year with the Crimson Softball Program. She also coaches the Maple Grove 9B Girls Basketball team and is in her 6th year as an Adapted Physical Education teacher in the Anoka‑Hennepin School District.

Coach Walters grew up in Champlin and graduated from Champlin Park High School in 2015, where she competed in basketball, softball, and volleyball. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Physical Education, and Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) from Winona State University and later completed her master’s degree at Bemidji State University.

Haley lives in Elk River with her husband, Jacob, and their dog, Mara.

Malorie Wall

B Squad Co-Head Coach

Malorie Wall is a B Squad Co-Head Coach in her 4th year of coaching softball. She was born in Galesville, Wisconsin, where she played softball throughout high school. Coach Wall graduated from the University of Minnesota–Duluth and now teaches 4th grade in District 279 at Edinbrook Elementary.

You can get Coach Wall dancing if you play “Late Night Talking” by Harry Styles.

Joey Simon

B Squad Co-Head Coach

Joey Simon serves as a B Squad Co-Head Coach for Maple Grove Softball. He has coached both Crimson Softball and Crimson Hockey for 6 years and currently serves as an Maple Grove Girls Varsity Assistant Hockey Coach.

Born in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, Joey attended St. Cloud State University and now works as a Physical Education teacher in District 279 at Brooklyn Middle School.

Joey has been married to his wife, Maegan, for 2 years and together they have a golden retriever named Duke. Known for his upbeat personality, Coach Simon isn’t afraid to sing along to Toby Keith’s hit “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.”

Alyssa Strunk

9A Head Coach

Alyssa Strunk joins the Maple Grove Softball coaching staff in 2026 as the 9A Head Coach. She teaches health, physical education, and sports medicine at Maple Grove Senior High, where she has taught for 4 years and is in her 12th year of teaching overall.

Originally from Zumbrota, Minnesota, Alyssa was a multi‑sport athlete in softball, basketball, and volleyball. She earned her degree in Health, Physical Education, and Developmental Adapted Physical Education (DAPE) from Winona State University.

Alyssa brings 12 years of coaching experience, including 4 years as the Varsity Softball Coach at Medford High School, 7 seasons of JV volleyball coaching, and additional work with youth in basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

She enjoys staying active—playing competitive slow‑pitch softball, biking, skiing, kayaking, fishing, reading, and walking her dog. Alyssa lives in Maple Grove with her fiancée, Lindsey, and their 2‑year‑old Dachshund, Jett. Her favorite feel‑good song is “Gloria” by Laura Branigan.

Jennifer Perusse

9A Assistant Coach

Jennifer Perusse joins the Maple Grove Softball coaching staff in 2026 as the 9A Assistant Coach. She has been part of the Osseo Area School District for many years and currently serves as the Media Specialist at Maple Grove Middle School. Coach Perusse is a graduate of St. Cloud State University, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Information Media.

Born in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Jennifer grew up playing volleyball, basketball, and softball. An avid sports fan, she has spent many years working with youth athletes in softball, soccer, and basketball.

Jennifer is married, with two children, and lives in Maple Grove. You might see her walking their Newfoundland dog, Bauer, around the neighborhood. If you want to get Coach Perusse singing, play anything from the 1980s—especially “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.