Tom and Jennifer Fickett are ready for their new challenges.

The Ficketts are moving all their possessions, two dogs, and their ambitions from Minnesota to Northwest Indiana in preparation for their new jobs as coaches at Calumet College.

Tom Fickett, 36, will take over the softball program while Jennifer, 33, will seek to turn around the fortunes of the women's soccer program. Cal College athletic director Peter Haze Haring said the Whiting school is lucky to get two high-caliber coaches in such a short period of time.

"They are both quality coaches as well as good individuals," Haring said. "Tom will bring a ton of experience to the softball program and Jennifer's experience as a coach and administrator will allow her to find the kind of player needed to make the team strongly competitive in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference."

Tom Fickett has made several coaching stops at small colleges including stints as head coach at William Jewell, Mount Mercy, and Dakota Wesleyan.

"We're really excited about coming to Calumet College," Tom Fickett said. "The chance to come to the same school and coach in the same program was something we could not pass up. When we came there to be interviewed and be shown the campus in June we were treated very well. I can't wait to get started."

Jennifer, who will be taking over her first college program, was head coach at Chaska and Eden Prairie High Schools in Minnesota and was Director of Development with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to take over a young program and build it to where it's competitive in a very good conference," Jennifer Fickett said. "We have heard nothing but great things about the school and both of us are ready to get up there and start working."

The Crimson Wave softball team (17-23, 3-15) was coached by Dale Ray in 2007 while the soccer team (0-17, 0-9) was led by Emily King.

The couple, who will celebrate their first anniversary in September, will reside in Valparaiso.