The head coach and two assistants leading Cyclone softball love the game. They text each other about it whenever they can during work at their full-time jobs and see each other more than family. They call themselves fire, spice and nice. And they wouldn't want it any other way.

Head Coach Ari Bulthuis was an assistant coach for the Cyclones starting in 2016, but took the program reins in summer 2020 with her former teammate, Jen Vanek, as assistant coach. Bulthuis pulled her friend from coaching at Mother McAuley High School into assisting with her in 2018. The duo were Cyclones during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, each earning All-Conference honors. Last fall, they brought on alumna Sam Owens (2016, 2017) as a second assistant. Owens competed for the Cyclones when Bulthuis was assistant coach and earned All-Region and All-Conference awards.

"I got Jen back to her roots. She couldn't say no," Bulthuis laughed. "Sam and I became friends when I coached her. I knew she was going to be a coach someday, and I asked her to join us."

Having each played for Moraine Valley and some beyond – Owens later competed for Aurora University and Vanek played briefly at North Central College – they understand their players at a unique level.

"This year we became a team quicker because [the players] trust us, and we've been through the same thing as them," Vanek said.

"We know how it is. We've had our last outs, and we coach like we play," Bulthuis added. "I always say, hearts on the field."

"At a community college, there are not as many players, so you become closer. At Moraine Valley, you have better connections with coaches and players. You're friends, and that turns into family," Owens affirmed.

The trio helped lead this year's squad to a second consecutive Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship with 11 of their players earning conference honors, including MVP and Pitcher of the Year. They complement each other as fire (Vanek), spice (Owens) and nice (Bulthuis). Vanek can get fired up for her players, and Owens can be feisty while Bulthuis is more of the team mom. Regardless of their roles, they all love the game and being part of the Moraine Valley family.

"You find magic at Moraine Valley. It's hard to top," Vanek explained.

Between their respective jobs working in an office and bartending (Bulthuis), special ed at Andrew High School (Owens) and as a logistics specialist (Vanek), they fill any spare moments with shop talk.

"I'll go to the bathroom to talk about softball," Owens said.

"We're recruiting, emailing, networking. And we play 16-inch softball for fun," added Bulthuis. "I do more work for Moraine Valley than my office job."

"It's our fun job, our happy place," Vanek said.

Although like any family they get frustrated with each other, they still consider this gig and playing softball a sisterhood.

"You meet a lot of people with differences, but that all goes away on the field because you all have the same love and heart out there," Owens said.

"It's a team mentality. Trust and love," added Vanek.

"Anything between the lines, and I'm in for it," Bulthuis stated.

Being a part of the history of the program and now leading it feels like they never left. They each want to continue growing the team and leading more athletes to success.

"Moraine Valley is home. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," Vanek said.

"I've been gone three years but being back is normal. It's family," Owens added.

"We want to turn this program into something great," Bulthuis said. "We lay our hearts out there for the players, and they do the same. I don't get much sleep, but I'll take that any day."