The spring sports season is already upon us.

The debut for two new Northwestern spring sports head coaches is on the horizon as well.

Joshua Zimmerman, who has been a part of either the Tigers' softball or baseball coaching staffs since 2005, now has his opportunity as the Northwestern softball head coach. Chuck Groller takes over as the Northwestern girls' track and field head coach, replacing Dave Kerschner.

Zimmerman began his Northwestern coaching career as the head coach of the JV softball team, followed by a five-year stint as an assistant coach behind Jen Horner at the varsity level. He then helped the Tigers' baseball team under head coach Len Smith, but when the opportunity arose back on the softball side, Zimmerman couldn't pass it up.

"It was a difficult decision at the time, and I didn't know if the opportunity to coach softball would come up again," Zimmerman said. "When the head coaching job opened up this past year, I had some soul searching to do. I ultimately decided that I wanted to come back and coach the program that had given me so much as an assistant."

The first-year softball head coach also coaches football in the fall, and his coaching philosophy resembles one of gridiron head coach Josh Snyder.

"To steal a line from coach Josh Snyder with whom I coach football with: If we take care of the small things, the big things will take care of themselves," Zimmerman said. "If we are fundamentally sound, we can be a very good softball team."

As of now, the Tigers' softball season is slated to begin Monday against Saucon Valley at 4 p.m.

Zimmerman, along with Groller, were officially named head coaches at a board meeting in January.

Filling in for the departure of Kerschner, Groller takes over the girls track and field team that has been extremely successful in recent years. The Tigers went unbeaten in the Colonial League last year (11-0) and in 2013.

In his first season in charge, despite losing a number of key distance runners and throwers from that team, Groller hopes to keep the winning tradition up.

"Once again, our goal for the girls team is to go undefeated in the regular season and to repeat as Colonial League champions," Groller said. "We will, however, be challenged by other talented girls teams in the Colonial League."

Following in the footsteps of Kerschner, the first-year head coach sees similarities in their coaching philosophies.

"Since coaching both track and football together, Dave and I have become very good friends over the years," Groller said. "We tend to feed off of each other. We're very strategy-oriented, data-driven, analytical and we make adjustments as needed. We execute our game plans to the best of our ability and knowledge so our teams and athletes can be successful."

Groller is also a big proponent of placing academics as a primary focus through his coaching.

"Regardless of what sport I'm coaching, my philosophy is that academics will come first and foremost for my student-athletes," Groller said. "After that, I try to be very optimistic at all times and believe that all goals are attainable with hard work, commitment and mutual respect."

The track and field team is scheduled to begin its season next Tuesday at Wilson in a tri-meet with Catasauqua. Meet time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.