Softball Southern Conference

Wesley Named Appalachian State Softball Coach

BOONE, N.C. - Shae Wesley, who led Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill. to a national championship in just the program's second year of existence, has been hired as the third head coach in Appalachian State University softball history, director of athletics Charlie Cobb announced on Monday.

Wesley replaces Amy Herrington, who stepped down this summer to accept a position as an assistant coach at Chattanooga.

"We are extremely fortunate to have someone with the experience and success that Coach Wesley has achieved to lead our softball program," Cobb said. "Hiring someone of Coach Wesley's caliber, especially taking into consideration the late timing of our opening, speaks volumes about the championship potential of Appalachian softball. We are excited to have Coach Wesley on board to lead the program to fulfillment of that potential."

Most recently, Wesley served as the first head coach in Heartland C.C. history. In the program's inaugural season in 2008, she led the Hawks to a 32-11 record and a third-place showing at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II national tournament.

The following year, she coached the Hawks to a 50-8 campaign that culminated with winning the NJCAA Division II national title. For her efforts, Wesley was named the 2009 NJCAA Coach of the Year, Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and Region 24 Coach of the Year, as well as heading a staff that was tabbed as the National Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.

In addition to the success on the field, Wesley's 2009 title team ranked 11th nationally with a 3.38 cumulative grade point average. Ten of her players went on to play at four-year programs with seven joining the NCAA Division I ranks, including pitcher Hannah Dow, outfielder Michelle Gorzelle and and infielder McKenzie Phillips, who currently play at Appalachian.

Wesley also played an integral role in the formation and growth of the entire athletics department at Heartland, as she was one of the first employees ever hired by the newly formed program in 2006.

After compiling an 82-19 record (.812) in two seasons at the helm, Wesley stepped down after winning the 2009 national crown to focus solely on her position as Young Athletes Coordinator for the Illinois Special Olympics. In that role, she coordinated and facilitated training for more than 2,500 Young Athletes across central and southern Illinois.

She has also served as player/coach of the Bloomington Lady Hearts, a National Softball Association Major AA team, from 2005-08 and a player and coach in the Hutt Valley softball program in New Zealand from 2002-03.

Wesley played collegiately at Illinois State in 2001 and '02, earning second-team all-America recognition as a senior and all-Missouri Valley Conference honors both seasons. She began her college career at Illinois Central College, where she was named to the 2000 NJCAA national all-tournament team before transferring to Illinois State. She graduated from ISU in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in psychology (sociology minor).

"I'm truly excited to be a part of Appalachian State University and the Boone community," Wesley said. "Coach Herrington did a great job recruiting some tremendous talent and I'm honored to be able to lead such an exceptional group of student-athletes."

Last season, the Mountaineers finished 27-25, good for the first winning record in the 10-year history of the program. The Apps open the 2011 campaign on Feb. 10 in a tournament at national-power Arizona State.