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Kelly Kovach Schoenly begins her third season as head coach at Miami. She has immediately made a difference for the RedHawks, leading the team to back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the Mid-American Conference. Her 27 MAC wins are the most for any Miami coach over her first two seasons.
Schoenly's 2008 RedHawks finished third in the MAC East Division and earned the fourth seed in the conference tournament for the second consecutive season. The team set a school record by having six players named to the all-conference teams, the most in the MAC. Last season, she helped lead senior Breanna Robinson to school records in home runs (11) and RBI (51) as well as mentoring Halle Popson to the highest career batting average in school history (.351).
Her 2007 RedHawks also finished third in the MAC East Division, earning a berth in the conference tournament. Her first MU squad finished strong down the stretch, winning 12 of its last 16 games, including a two-game sweep of tournament champion Eastern Michigan. Those RedHawks set four program records, including hits (423) and runs-batted-in (191).
After spending eight seasons as an assistant coach at Penn State, Schoenly was tabbed as the eighth head coach in Miami softball history on June 29, 2006. Schoenly, helped guide the Nittany Lions to seven Big Ten Tournament appearances and six NCAA Tournament berths.
As a veteran of the Big Ten with 11 seasons of assistant coaching experience, Schoenly guided one of the nation's best pitching staffs in 2006, as the Nittany Lions finished the season ranked 12th nationally in ERA (1.36) and limited their opponents to 74 earned runs in 380.2 innings. During her eight-year tenure (1998-2006), Schoenly helped Penn State to seven 30-win seasons, including a program-record 39 wins in 2006. Schoenly also produced two All-America pitchers, including 2005 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Third-Team honoree Ashley Esparza, 2006 Second-Team All-Great Lakes Region pitcher Missy Beseres, the first Nittany Lion ever drafted to play professional softball.
"I am thrilled to be part of the Miami family," Schoenly said. "With the opening of the new stadium and the commitment level the administration has made to the program, Miami offers the whole package to its student-athletes. It has the academic reputation that can be matched by few and an athletic environment where student-athletes can thrive. I feel extremely fortunate to have been chosen to lead this program into its new era."
Prior to Penn State, Schoenly was an assistant coach at Michigan for three seasons (1995-98). During her stint in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines won two Big Ten regular-season titles, three Big Ten Tournament titles, three NCAA Regional Championships and made three trips to the NCAA Women's College World Series. In addition to being honored as part of the NFCA Great Lakes Coaching Staff of the Year in 1998, Schoenly coached one All-America pitcher, three conference pitchers of the year and six all-conference selections.
During her collegiate pitching career at Michigan (1991-95), Schoenly earned numerous conference and national awards, including 1995 NFCA First-Team All-America plaudits. A two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and three-time all-conference selection, Schoenly was a member of three Big Ten Conference Championship teams and played on the 1995 squad, which finished seventh at the NCAA Women's College World Series.
A two-time GTE Academic All-American, Schoenly received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Michigan in December of 1995. After receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, Schoenly went on to earn her master's degree in elementary mathematics education from Michigan in May of 1998.
Schoenly has been married to her husband Doug since October 2001, he is a Penn State alumnus and tennis professional. The Schoenlys have a five-year old daughter, Danielle.
Former Players on Kelly Kovach Schoenly:
Breanna Robinson (2004-08): "Coach K not only took a vested interest in my skill development as a student-athlete, but my academic and intellectual development. She encouraged me to dig deeper and give more at times when I thought there was no more to give, which challenged me mentally and helped build character. I am thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to play for Coach K and am confident the Miami softball program will continue to excel under her guidance!"
Halle Popson (2004-08): "Coach Schoenly's ability to translate a fierce competitive spirit while staying true to her values in family, unity, and tradition defines her leadership style. Playing for yourself, your teammates, and the name across your chest were principles of Coach K's approach; but even more impressive was her inadvertent capacity to make me as a player strive to represent, to perform, and to win- FOR HER. Coupling legitimate skill with respect and awareness, Coach Schoenly develops her players, her staff and herself towards fulfilling what is means to play `FOR THE LOVE AND HONOR. ` She cultivates champions between the lines, professionals in the classroom and empowered women in the community. I am privileged to have played under her fortitude."
Leslie Macedo (2003-07): "As graduation approached, I was ready and prepared for life beyond the softball field. Coach K and her staff have created a supportive and nurturing family environment, while pushing student-athletes to pursue excellence on and off the field. This coaching staff made my senior year one that I will always remember and cherish. "
KELLY KOVACH SCHOENLY QUICK FACTS:
University of Michigan:
- Four-year letterwinner (1991-95)
- Two-time GTE Academic All-American
- Two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Year
- NFCA All-American (1995)
- Helped Michigan to three Big Ten titles
- Part of 1995 Michigan squad that finished seventh at the NCAA Women's College World Series
- Assistant Coach (1995-98)
Penn State University:
- Assistant Coach (1998-2006)
- Helped the Nittany Lions to seven 30-win seasons
- Produced two All-America pitchers
- Led Penn State to six NCAA Tournament berths
- Guided Penn State to seven Big Ten Tournament appearances
Miami University
- Head Coach (2006-present)
- Most wins for a first-year head coach in program history (26)
- Most MAC wins in first two seasons by a coach in program history (27)
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