Softball | 7/10/2025 1:57:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.— Barry University Director of Athletics Dr. Scott Smith announced promotions for the Buccaneer baseball and softball programs, as Holly Kathios and Dean Kanganis have been promoted to associate head coach for their respective sport heading into the 2025-26 season.

"Coach Kathios and Coach Kanganis give so much to our student athletes and are a big part of our softball and baseball programs", stated Dr. Smith. "I am happy that we can recognize their hard work and dedication over the past few years by promoting them to Associate Head Coach."

Kathios joined the Bucs in the fall of 2021 as a volunteer assistant coach and helped the softball program reach the NCAA South Regional in 2025 for the first time since 2013. Since joining the staff, Barry Softball has collected a 129-90 overall record and 65-55 Sunshine State Conference record. With a focus on the offense, Kathios helped the Bucs improve in 11 statistical categories every year over the last four years.

The 2025 season was a highlight for the offense as they cracked the top-10 all time in nine statistical categories: runs (298, 3rd), hits (465, 3rd), doubles (85, 3rd), triples (23, 3rd), runs batted in (267, 3rd), slugging percentage (.414, 8th), walks (173, 3rd), on-base percentage (.382, 6th), and hit by pitches 46 (3rd). It was also the highest batting average since 2016 hitting .299.

"Coach Kathios is so deserving of this promotion. She is one of the best young coaches in the country and has been instrumental in our team's success," stated softball head coach Sean Cotter.

Kathios played collegiately at St. Rose as a freshman and spent three years at Salve Regina. As a captain with the Seahawks at SRU, she was named Second-Team All-Commonwealth Coast Conference and to the league's All-Academic Team. In 2019, she was seventh in Division III for toughest to strikeout, fanning just once in 123 plate appearances. In 81 games with the Seahawks, she slashed .275/.360/.365, scored 22 runs and drove in 43. She blasted her only collegiate homer in her final game against Endicott in 2019.

Kathios graduated from SRU with a bachelor's in mathematics and minors in education, and religious and theological studies in 2019. She earned her master's degree in psychology with California Southern's online program in May of 2022.

Kanganis has been part of the last four seasons of Buccaneers Baseball, joining the staff in the fall of 2021 as a volunteer assistant. In the summer of 2023, Dean was promoted to assistant coach and co-recruiting coordinator and took over as the head coach of the junior varsity program the following summer.

On the varsity side, Kanganis helped the Bucs win the NCAA South Region 2 Tournament and advance to the Super Regional for the first time in program history in 2023. As the co-recruiting coordinator, he helped the Bucs sign the top-rated class in NCAA Division II according to Perfect Game in 2023.

In 2025, the junior varsity baseball team tied the record for most wins in the short history with 17. The team abolished the stolen base record in Kanganis first official year at the helm with 137 stolen bases. That is more than the three previous seasons combined that totaled 129. Ben Rhode and Dylan Rose set new individual records for stolen bases with 39 and 13, respectively. Rose was a perfect 13 of 13 attempts, Rhode was caught twice on 41 attempts.

"Coach Kanganis has been instrumental to our program and I am happy that he is getting a promotion that he deserves", stated head baseball coach DJ Price. "He has done a great job with our junior varsity program and been a key part of our program with our infielders and hitters."

Kanganis oversees all infield operations, compiles day-to-day statistics and analysis of defensive efficiency and assists with hitting instruction. He helped raise over $6,000 dollars organizing and runner camps and clinics.

In addition to his duties with the Bucs, he owns Diamond Glove Academy, an infield training company sponsored and partnered with Valle Training Gloves. Over 25 collegiate infielders and two professionals (Brandon Barriera/1st round/Blue Jays and Cory Acton/9th round/Braves) have matriculated through the academy.