Carla Passini Kielsmeier was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director in June of 2024, while remaining Senior Woman Administrator in the athletic department.
Prior to her new position, Passini Kielsmeier acted as the Associate Athletic Director of External Operations where she assisted in the day-to-day operations within the athletic department, including staffing, budgeting, fundraising, and scheduling. She headed the game day operations for home athletic events at Quincy University in addition to overseeing designated sports and other areas within the athletic department. Going forward, Passini Kielsmeier will be the liaison for academics, financial aid, compliance, residential life, and conduct matters and will provide updates and education for the athletic department on policies from the university, conferences, and the NCAA.
She concluded her time as the head softball coach of Quincy in the spring of 2022. She was elevated to head coach Nov. 11, 2015 after spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the program.
The Hawks finished with 21 wins during the 2018 season. Morgan Heckman and Megan Sharpshair earned All-GLVC honors under the direction of Passini Kielsmeier. The Hawks 21 wins during the 2018 season were the most since 2014, and QU has seen its win total increase each season while Passini Kielsmeier was head coach.
The Lady Hawks racked up 16 wins in her first season at the helm in 2016. Senior outfielder Rebecca Powers was named QU's female recipient of the James R. Spalding Individual Sportsmanship Award for her class shown on the field.
In all, Passini Kielsmeier has had players appear on All-GLVC teams nine times in her coaching career, including an all-region choice, shortstop Alanna Viken, in 2014.
Passini Kielsmeier played two seasons with Quincy (2010-11) after transferring from Lincoln (Ill.) College, serving as the Hawks' starting catcher, making all 52 starts behind the plate as a senior. She recorded a .992 fielding percentage as a senior and threw out 15 base runners.
Passini Kielsmeier has previous coaching experience, having started an entirely new ASA girls softball program in her hometown of Standard, Illinois, when she was just 18-years-old. The Putnam County Panic system consisted of over 25 girls from ages 10 to 16 at the 12-&-under and 16-&-under levels. Passini Kielsmeier and the Panic placed in the top 3 in over 12 tournaments over the six-year span, winning four of them.
Passini Kielsmeier was a mathematics major and earned her undergraduate degree from QU in 2012. She also completed her Masters degree in educational leadership in May 2014. She currently resides in Quincy with her husband, Kelly, and her daughter, Klara.
