Coastal makes coaching hire

CONWAY | Coastal Carolina is replacing a coaching legend with one that's coming off her second national championship.

Kelley Green, formerly the coach at Division II Lock Haven (Penn.), has agreed to a three-year deal to replace Jess Dannelly as Coastal's next head softball coach, Coastal Senior Women's Administrator Cari Rosiek said Tuesday.

Green turned a struggling program into a power during her 11 seasons at Lock Haven, leading the Eagles to national championships in 2006 and 2009. They were national runner ups in 2007 and finished fourth nationally in 2008.

``I really like the idea of a new challenge,'' Green said. ``Coastal really has the potential to be a great Division I program. Looking at the success of the baseball team, I know that softball can do the same. That's exciting to me.

``Obviously as a coach you want to take your professional career to the highest level. I played Division I softball and coached in Division I before I got to Lock Haven, so that's intriguing to me.''

Green was an accomplished player at Northwestern, earning all-Big Ten honors three times, before coaching two seasons at Penn State from 1996-98. She also played two season of professional softball.

Lock Haven finished 14-20 in 1998, the year before Green was hired as head coach. Though the program initially struggled under her watch, she engineered a rebirth, winning 37 games in 2002. She holds a career record of 346-134, making her the winningest coach in Lock Haven history.

Green was one of several candidates to interview for the position, but her vision made a big impression on members of Coastal's athletic staff, Rosiek said.

``She was really impressive on her interview, and that made it a really easy decision after we finished with the process,'' Rosiek said. ``She brings the willingness to win and the expertise to win. She is very hungry. That was great for us after having the same coach for 22 years. She brought in a lot of excitement.''

Green believes her best quality is an ability to recruit and engage her athletes.

``I think I can bring the best out of my players,'' she said. ``I think I can motivate them to reach their potential. I think I'm a pretty good recruiter. I think I've proven that at Lock Haven. It's important to get the best players possible.

``I think it will provide a great environment to be successful.''

Comments

[fan]

Sounds like a good hire........ Got to cheer on every Coastal sport so lets go lady chants!

[Homer]

Very nice, but let's not forget that nothing much got by Jess-that's why he had more NCAA appearances then any of the other team sports.