ELON, N.C. - Elon University interim head softball coach Kathy Bocock has announced Jess Kohut as the first addition to her staff. Kohut returns to Elon, where she served as an assistant coach from 2009-10, as the associate head coach after a year as the assistant coach at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, N.J. Kohut will head the pitching staff as well as take over the role of recruiting coordinator.
"I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to come back to Elon and be a part of this program under Coach Bocock," said Kohut. "She is a strong, positive leader with a winning attitude that is contagious. We work very well together and are excited to commit ourselves to this program's success. We have a special group of dedicated players and I cannot wait to work with them again."
Kohut managed the pitching staff at Saint Peter's and helped the lone 2011 returning pitcher improve her performance significantly over the season. She also developed a base in the Jersey City community by spearheading clinic preparations and implementing a bat girl program.
"I think Elon and the team, myself included, are all very fortunate to have Jess back," said Bocock. "She brings a lot of expertise both on the field and in the office. Jess communicates so well with the players and has a lot of talent for coaching the game."
During her previous stint at Elon during the 2010 season, Kohut served as the pitching coach, helping the Phoenix to a 38-21 record, the most wins in program history. Kohut assisted the team to its first ever Southern Conference championship and its first NCAA Regional berth. She also served as the program's recruiting coordinator.
Before arriving at Elon, she served as the graduate assistant coach at the University of New Haven from 2008-09 where she created and implemented daily workouts for the pitching staff, conducted team practices, organized fundraising efforts and helped in the recruiting efforts. She led her pitching staff to a 1.83 ERA and a 34-18 record with the leading pitcher breaking the school strikeout record, becoming a third-team All-America selection, a first-team All-East selection and conference pitcher of the year.
Kohut spent the 2008 season as the first assistant coach at Drew University where she wrote and supervised daily pitching workouts and worked with student-athletes to improve their game knowledge and physical skills.
A 2007 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a dual degree in elementary education and psychology, Kohut was a four-year member and two-year captain if the Lions' softball team. She earned all-conference and all-region honors as a pitcher and a hitter. Kohut received the 2007 Honda Inspiration Award given annually to one outstanding female college athlete who has overcome adversity to excel in her sport.
Kohut received her master's degree in management of sport industries from New Haven in 2009.