OUR COACHING STAFF
At USA Deaf Softball, our dedicated coaches are passionate about empowering Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing athletes and fostering a sense of community through softball.
Meet our coaching team who are committed to bringing out the best in every player.
Laura SkyQuest, CDI, MA, works full time as a Certified Deaf Interpreter in Minnesota and previously served as a teacher and coach for many years.
Born and raised in Maryland, Laura started playing T-ball and baseball at age five, later transitional to fastpitch softball in middle school. She completed in tournament-level travel ball through high school. She went on to play NCAA Division I softball at Mount St. Mary's University for one season before transferring to Gallaudet University, where she played for three more seasons.
Laura also played in an adult fastpitch league in Colorado and has international playing experience, including the Indoor World Softball Championship during their senior year of high school and a friendly international tournament in Aruba.
Over the years, Laura has coached a variety of sports, including several seasons as an assistant coach. She considers softball her favorite sport and is passionate about seeing deaf and hard of hearing softball grow both in U.S. and internationally.
Fun facts: Laura has traveled to 48 U.S. states (just two left!) and 18 countries. She once met and participated in a skills clinic with Olympic Gold Medalist in softball, SS Dot Richardson.
Jill Bianco
ASSISTANT COACH
Jill Bianco, a native of the Chicago suburbs, is a distinguished athlete and coach with over 40 years of experience in softball and baseball. She began her softball journey playing AAU ball, earning numerous trophies and MVP awards that led to her high school career at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). At a young age, she briefly trained with a Junior Olympian pitcher before continuing her development through years of self-taught pitching, becoming a highly skilled and successful pitcher.
Jill was inducted into the MSSD Hall of Fame in 2019, recognized for her leadership as a pitcher and hitter in leading the program to its first softball championship in school history. She went on to pitch for four years at Gallaudet University before transitioning into baseball. She competed on women’s traveling baseball teams and represented North America and the United States in international women baseball competitions. She was later drafted into a men’s wooden bat league, where she earned a championship title. She also played briefly for Chicago Women Fastpitch Softball league.
In addition to her playing career, Jill has extensive coaching experience across volleyball, basketball, softball, and baseball. She has led multiple teams to championship appearances, including earning two National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association (NDIAA) national softball championships, and has coached several record-breaking teams.
Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Gallaudet University and has professional experience in the federal government and interpreting agencies, including supervisory roles. She currently serves as a Career Education teacher and Head Varsity Softball Coach at the California School for the Deaf (CSD) in Fremont, where she focuses on developing student-athletes and preparing students for future career pathways. She resides in California with her two Deaf pit bull mixes.
Steven Birkby
ASSISTANT COACH
A lifelong Idaho native, Coach Birkby enters sixth year with the Borah Softball program and fourth year as a Varsity Head Coach. In 2024, he led Borah to its first state championship in program history and was honored as All-State Coach of the Year. He takes great pride in representing Borah High School and building a program grounded in tradition, integrity, and excellence.
A former collegiate baseball player, Steve competed for three seasons at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. before transferring to Idaho State University. While at Gallaudet, he served for two years as the baseball representative for the Athletic Department.
Coach Birkby began his coaching career in 2005 at Great Falls High School in Montana, coaching volleyball and softball. With more than 15 years of experience spanning youth, travel ball, and high school programs including USA Explosion and Idaho Intensity 12U travel ball. He brings a well rounded background to the fastpitch softball world.
Coach Birkby believes softball is more than just a game—it is a platform to build character, leadership skills, and lifelong relationships. His coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, accountability, and creating a competitive, positive environment where student-athletes can thrive while fostering a culture of respect and unity within the Deaf USA softball family.