Charleston, S.C. -- Shelly Hoerner, who coached at Barry University for five seasons, has been named head softball coach at College of Charleston, Director of Athletics Jerry Baker announced on Thursday.
Hoener comes to the Cougars after a brief two-month stint at North Carolina State. Hoerner was hired as an assistant coach at N.C. State on July 14, 2005 after leading Barry to an average of more than 38 wins per season. Hoerner replaces Chandelle Schulte who coached the Cougars to a 163-82 record over four seasons and was named head coach at Wisconsin on August 8th.
"We are very excited to have Shelly Hoerner join the College of Charleston family," said Baker. "Shelly brings a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience to our program. I know our student-athletes will benefit greatly under her leadership."
"I am very grateful and honored to be the next head softball coach at The College of Charleston," said Hoerner. "I am excited about the opportunity to work with such talented athletes and build on the traditions that have already been established with this program. I look forward to working in such a caring and supportive environment with wonderful people and guiding these student-athletes both on and off the field."
During that five-year span as head coach of Barry, Hoerner compiled a 191-82 mark, including an 88-41 mark in the Sunshine State Conference. She also led the Bucs to back-to-back SSC titles in 2002 and 2003 and a fifth-place finish in the 2002 NCAA Division II Championship. In 2003, Hoerner guided the Bucs to a school-record 52 wins while winning the second of two SSC Coach of the Year honors.
As an assistant at Barry, Hoerner was an integral part of three Barry squads (1997-99) which compiled a 126-45 overall record and advanced to postseason play each year. The 1998 team reached the national championship game, finishing second in the nation, after winning the South Regional for only the second time in school history.
Hoerner returned to Barry after one year of head coaching experience at Valdosta State in Valdosta, Ga. She nearly led the Blazers to a spot in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, despite playing with a predominantly freshman roster.
As a player, she started as a freshman in 1993 at Barry, earning second-team All-SSC. As a sophomore, Hoerner helped lead the Buccaneers to their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, where they finished fifth. In her two seasons as a player, she scored 41 runs and drove in 30, while striking out only six times in 224 plate appearances.
After her sophomore year, Hoerner transferred to NCAA Division I Canisius College where she led the Griffons to two Mid-American Athletic Conference titles, earning All-MAAC honors.
Hoerner spent the summer of 1998 playing catcher for Cavigal Nice Sports, a semi-pro team in Nice, France. She helped Cavigal to a fifth-place finish that summer in the European Championships.
Hoerner received a B.S. in physical education at Canisius in 1996 and a master's in sport management at Barry in 2003. In December 1999, she married Jeff Hoerner.