Kelsi Dunne Named Head Coach of ERAU Softball
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Port Orange native and Spruce Creek High School Hall of Famer Kelsi Dunne has been selected as the head coach of the Embry-Riddle softball program, ERAU Director of Athletics
John Phillips announced on Saturday. Dunne will be the second head coach in the history of an Eagle softball program that is entering its third season of competition and is coming off its first Sun Conference regular season championship.
"We are really excited to announce the hiring of Kelsi Dunne as our next softball coach," Phillips stated. "We had over 90 applicants for the position, and we interviewed several other candidates, but after spending time with Kelsi on campus earlier this week, it quickly became clear that she was the best candidate to lead our softball program."
Dunne comes to ERAU after serving as an Assistant Coach at Oklahoma State for the last two seasons. At OSU, Dunne worked primarily with the pitchers and catchers, developing workouts, overseeing practice sessions, developing and implementing pitching game plans with pitch calling during games. She also performed similar duties as a volunteer assistant coach at Mississippi State throughout the 2012 season.
"I want to start by sincerely thanking ERAU President - Dr. John Johnson; Athletic Director -
John Phillips; Senior Woman Administrator –
Sonja Taylor, and the entire committee for giving me this unbelievable opportunity to come back to my hometown and be the head coach of the ERAU softball program," Dunne said. "My campus visit with the committee, athletic staff and players was outstanding. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Coach
Steve Ridder for his guidance and mentoring along the way; I truly appreciate his support.
"I am humbled by the confidence that everyone has shown in me by allowing me this great opportunity. I know that it's not every day that this kind of opportunity is presented to a young coach. I'm here to win at everything we do – on the field, in the classroom and in the community. I look forward to building a championship softball program here at ERAU."
Dunne was a standout collegiate player at the University of Alabama where she led the Crimson Tide to three Women's College World Series appearances - including a semifinal finish in 2011 - SEC regular season titles in 2010 and 2011, and the SEC tournament crown in 2010.
Named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, she was a four-time NCAA Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American as well as a four-time Easton first team All-American. A four-time All-SEC pitcher, Dunne was the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year and was the MVP of the 2010 SEC tournament. She was a USA Softball top-10 finalist for Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011, and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 National Pro Fastpitch League by the NPF Diamonds.
Dunne closed out her career with the Crimson Tide as the all-time leader in strikeouts (1,219), strikeouts per seven innings (9.82), complete game no-hitters (9) and shutouts (40). She also finished with 113 career wins, which ranks sixth on the SEC's all-time list.
Dunn also racked up numerous accolades at Spruce Creek High School. She set a Florida High School Athletic Association single-game strikeout record with 38 Ks in 17 innings of work in a playoff game in 2006 and became only the second player in the state to post two 400-strikeout campaigns. Dunne was the 2007 EA Sports National Softball Player of the Year and a two-time EA Sports High School All-America first team selection.
"Kelsi has obviously played the game at a very high level, but more importantly, she's had the chance to play for some really great coaches and mentors," Phillips continued. "She played for two of the top coaches in the country in Patrick Murphy and Vann Steudeman and she shares the same approach to the game. She will bring a positive, enthusiastic environment to the field everyday and her student-athletes will definitely enjoy playing for her."
Dunne earned her bachelor's degree in Business Management and Administration from Alabama in 2010 completed her master's degree in Sport Management, also at Alabama, in 2012.