Mike Nape, Sr. joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2021 as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s bowling teams. The 2025-26 season will mark Nape Sr.’s fifth year as assistant coach.
At St. Francis, Nape, Sr. assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, and implementation of game strategies.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Nape, Sr. spent six seasons (2014-2020) as the head coach for the women’s bowling team at Elmhurst College (Ill.). While as the head coach for the Bluejays, Nape, Sr. led Elmhurst to a 71-49 overall record during the 2015-16 season while also guiding the team to its first top-25 ranking since the 2008 season.
Along with his coaching involvement, Nape, Sr. owns 13 Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Regional Titles and bowled a perfect 300-game 18 times on the PBA tour, including a 300 to win a national title in Hawaii. He also secured another PBA National Title for winning the 2001 Resident Pro Championship. In total, Nape, Sr. has bowled 98 300-games and has rolled an 800 series on 40 separate occasions. He also holds 17 local bowling association titles.
In 2008, Nape, Sr. was inducted into the Suburban Windy City USBC Hall of Fame and in 2019 he was enshrined into the Illinois Bowling Hall of Fame.
Nape, Sr. has worked at Fox Bowl in Wheaton, Ill. for over 30 years.
