Lorie Coleman has been hired to take over as the Head Softball Coach at Biola University, Biola Athletic Director Dave Holmquist announced on Monday.

“We are excited to have Lorie join the staff at Biola,” said Holmquist. “Her Christian character, knowledge of the game, enthusiasm, and relational skills will combine to make her a successful college softball coach.”

Coleman, who becomes the eighth softball coach in school history, takes over a team which has reached the postseason in each of the last five years and averaging nearly 33 wins per season over the last decade.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me which I am not going to take lightly,” said Coleman. “I am thoroughly looking forward to giving it everything I have. I love this school and everything about it and I want to pour my heart into this position, this team and this University.”

Coleman will be making her collegiate coaching debut, but is no stranger to the Golden State Athletic Conference. She has been coaching club softball for the past 12 years, including the last four seasons as the Head Coach of the SoCal Spirit 18-Gold team. Numerous players Coleman has coached in recent years have ended up playing in the GSAC including current Biola players Leslie and Kristin Larson, and incoming freshman Sydney Sinner.

Prior to coaching the SoCal Spirit, Coleman coached the Corona Angels club team under the direction of Club Coordinator Marty Tyson. In 2005, she guided the U18 team to a second-place finish at the ASA Gold Nationals. The next year, her U18 team finished as the Runner-Up in the Western National Championships.

Coleman also spent three years in the high-school ranks, coaching at Apple Valley Christian from 1999-2000 and spending last season as the assistant coach at Sultana High School in Hesperia.

Coleman is taking over for Carissa Millsap-Kalaba, who stepped down at the end of the 2009 season to further pursue educational goals.

The Eagles capped the 2009 season with a record of 19-21, ranking third in the conference with a 1.84 ERA and fourth in offense with a .273 team batting average. Biola reached the GSAC Tournament thanks to a fifth-place conference finish, falling to Azusa Pacific University in one of two first-round, play-in games.

Learn more about Biola Athletics.

Written by Jeff Hoffman, Sports Information Director.