EDWARDSVILLE — Former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen on Thursday was added to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball coaching staff by interim coach Tony Stoecklin.

Isringhausen, 40, a native of Brighton who lives in Edwardsville, will be a volunteer pitching coach for the Cougars.

"He obviously knows the game at the highest level," Stoecklin said. "What has impressed me most is his ability to teach what he knows."

Isringhausen, who has not officially retired, has 300 major-league saves in his 16-year career. Seven of those seasons were spent with the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he collected 217 saves between 2003-08. He is the Cardinals' all-time leader in saves, and had 47 in 2004.

He spent the 2012 season with the Los Angeles Angels, getting into 50 games as a reliever and posting a 3-2 record and a 4.14 ERA.

"I enjoy the teaching aspect," Isringhausen said. "I feel like I have a lot to offer.

"At this level the players all have talent. I'm here to fine-tune. I want to help the pitchers get the most out of that talent."

Stoecklin said Isringhausen's presence already has made a difference.

"The guys are listening," Stoecklin said. "They're soaking up every ounce of information he gives them."

SIUE's season begins Friday in Nashville, Tenn., against David Lipscomb University.