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Jul 7, 2006: McElheny Selected To Guide Virginia Wesleyan's Successful Softball Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Virginia Wesleyan College's softball players will not have much of an "adjustment time" to get used to their new head coach.
That's due primarily to the fact that they already know their new head coach. Josh McElheny, who has been an assistant coach for the Marlins for the past four seasons, will take over as the interim head coach this season. He replaces Conrad Parker who retired as the most successful softball coach in Virginia Wesleyan history with a nine-year record of 217-156-1.
"Our softball program is in strong shape and returns many players," said Athletics Director Sonny Travis. "We felt that having Josh at the helm will lead to continuity in success. He knows the players, the opponents and has been key in the recruiting process. We feel he can do a great job with the program."
Virginia Wesleyan posted a 27-14 record in 2006, tying the fifth highest victory total in program history. It was the best showing for the Marlins since 2001 when the team finished 30-13.
"The last four years have gone by so fast," said McElheny. "Last year's seniors were the first group I helped coach all four years and this year's group of seniors is the first class that I helped recruit."
Marlin softball teams have put together 23 winning seasons in the 25-year history of the program, including five 30+ win campaigns highlighted by a 39-6 finish in 1986. McElheny will try to extend that overall success, which includes five Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships and four runner-up finishes. Virginia Wesleyan has placed among the ODAC's top four teams in 15 of the past 17 years and in the top two 10 times.
"Obviously there will be some changes in the program, but for the most part we will continue with the philosophy that we always have, "have fun and play hard." That is what has made Virginia Wesleyan successful in the past and I don't want to change that."
In addition to his experience as an assistant at Virginia Wesleyan for four years, McElheny has coached previously as an assistant at Division II's Gardner-Webb University. He has also coached several other sports on the high school level at St. Mary's School and Apex in North Carolina and Franklin in Virginia. In the summer months McElheny has been involved with traveling softball teams, coaching for the Suffolk Sting and Sports Plus. He is currently the head coach of the Hampton Roads Vipers 16-U squad.
McElheny graduated from North Carolina State University in 2000 as a parks, recreation and tourism management major, with a concentration on sports management.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach the softball team, but I also know I have some big shoes to fill," said McElheny. "Fortunately, we have a lot of talent returning to the field, along with a great recruiting class which will hopefully make my job a little easier. I'm really looking forward to getting started in the fall."
Virginia Wesleyan opens its 2007 season March 2-3 hosting the fifth annual Atlantic vs. East Challenge, which has developed into one of the top Division III tournaments in the nation. Defending national champion Rutgers University-Camden, and four other top 20-ranked teams, are already entered.
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