Oakley Completes Softball Coaching Staff
7/17/2016 1:50:00 PM | Softball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State head coach Eric Oakley announced the hiring of assistant coaches Emlyn Knerem and Meaggan Pettipiece on Friday (July 15).
In their roles with the Golden Flashes, Knerem will mentor the pitchers and catchers, while Pettipiece works closely with outfielders, base running and slap hitters.
Knerem, a Brunswick native, returns to Northeast Ohio after two seasons as an assistant coach at West Virginia Wesleyan, where she helped the Bobcats to a 92-19 (.829) record and back-to-back NCAA Division II Super Regional appearances. Knerem was instrumental in the development of Hannah Vet, who was named Mountain East Conference (MEC) Pitcher of the Year in each of her first two collegiate seasons. This past spring, Knerem guided a pitching staff that recorded a 1.24 ERA, which was good for fourth-best in the country. None of the six pitchers on the staff had an ERA above 2.33.
A 2012 graduate of Ashland University, Knerem holds school records with 92 victories, 101 complete games, 834.2 innings pitched and 11 saves. A four-time all-conference selection, she capped her career with NFCA Third Team All-America and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC) Pitcher of the Year honors in 2012.
"I have been able to watch Emlyn's success from afar, as she has accomplished much as both a pitcher at Ashland and then as a coach at West Virginia Wesleyan," Oakley said. "I've also seen her up close as an instructor at our Kent State Showcase. She possesses high level playing experience and a proven track record as a coach. Beyond that, Emlyn has a very positive energy and love for the game. I am happy that our pitchers and catchers will have her as their leader in the coming years."
Pettipiece joins the Golden Flashes after a 10-year tenure as the head coach at Northwood University, where she compiled a 217-225 record. She guided the Timberwolves to the GLIAC Tournament eight times and mentored 34 all-conference performers and five all-region performers. Prior to that, Pettipiece spent six seasons as an assistant coach at California University (Pa.) and helped the Vulcans to a 175-65 (.729) record while capturing three straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division titles and appearing in the NCAA Tournament four times.
A two-time All-American, Pettipiece was a vital part in California winning the national championship in 1998. She continued her playing career after graduation with the Canadian National Team and played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, while serving as an alternate at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In all, Pettipiece played with the national team for seven years (1998-2004).
"Meaggan is an excellent coach with a strong passion for teaching the game," Oakley said. "Her playing experience at the international and pro levels will be an asset as we continue to set higher and higher goals for this program. What impresses me most is the success she had leading a program with difficult recruiting limitations at an institution in the toughest conference in Division II. Meaggan also brings experience with slappers and base running, as we continue to try to get faster."
Oakley, who was named the sixth head coach in Kent State softball history on June 20, will look to lead Kent State to three consecutive Mid-American Conference titles for the first time in program history in 2017. Serving as interim head coach this past season, Oakley was named MAC Coach of the Year and totaled 37 wins, which is the fourth-most in school history.
