By: By Al Barba
Virginia Tech Release
KENNESAW, Ga. – Pete D'Amour, who in his two seasons as head coach of Kennesaw State softball has guided the program to unpresented heights at the Division I level, has resigned to assume the same position at Virginia Tech, it was announced on Thursday (May 31). D'Amour succeeds Scot Thomas, who served as the Hokies' head coach for 23 seasons.
The Owls, who are coming off a 39-17 season that included ASUN regular season and tournament championships, made history earlier this month by earning the program's first NCAA Division I Softball Championship appearance and competing in the Tallahassee Regional.
"It has been a fun experience that last two years," D'Amour said. "When I got the call to be Kennesaw State's head softball coach in the fall of 2016, there was some uncertainty on both ends. The program appeared to be on unsteady ground from an outsider's perspective and I had never been a head coach. Two years later, we were fortunate enough to rewrite history and make some of our own.
"We've won an ASUN Conference championship, had all region players, an All-American and made two postseason appearances, all while having a team GPA well over 3.0," D'Amour added. "These last two years have really been incredible."
While at KSU, D'Amour led the Owls to a 79-37 (.681) overall record and two postseason appearances, capping his tenure by earning ASUN Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2018.
"In his two years guiding the Kennesaw State softball program, Pete D'Amour has conducted himself in an exemplary fashion while displaying character and providing a great example for his players," Director of Athletics
Milton Overton said. "During his time as an Owl, Pete's leadership has produced outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and on the field, exemplified by the team compiling over a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average each year and making two postseason appearances that included the program's first NCAA Division I Softball Championship appearance this past year.
"We want to thank Pete for his service and dedication to Kennesaw State University, the softball program and its student-athletes, and wish him nothing but success in his new position as head coach at Virginia Tech," Overton added. "Pete is definitely leaving the KSU softball program in a great place and in a position for his successor to continue the great tradition of Owls Softball."
The list of impressive accomplishments achieved by Kennesaw State during D'Amour's two seasons include:
• An overall record of 79-37 (.681) and ASUN Conference regular-season and tournament championship (2018)
• A No. 34 RPI national ranking at the conclusion of the 2018 regular season, marking a program-best
• First NCAA Tournament bid with selection to the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional
• The receiving of votes in the national rankings for first time at the NCAA Division I level
• The second 40-win season (2017) in program history during the NCAA Division I era
• Advancing to the inaugural NISC Championship in 2017, marking program's first postseason appearance at the NCAA Division I level
• Posting a 3-0 record and capturing the NISC Region 5 title, and advancing to the semifinals
• Producing an NCAA Division I program record 11-game winning streak
• In back-to-back seasons, leading the ASUN Conference in batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, home runs and slugging percentage.
• Ranking among the top 50 nationally in batting average (No. 34), earned-run average (No. 41), slugging percentage (No. 36), stolen bases per game (No. 17), triples per game (No. 10) and won-loss percentage (No. 35) during the 2017 season.
• Having an NCAA Division I-record eight individuals earn ASUN Conference postseason accolades in 2018
• A total 13 ASUN All-Conference selections, five all-freshmen team picks, two ASUN Freshmen of the Year, ASUN Pitcher of the Year, ASUN Player of the Year and ASUN Coach of the Year
• The program's first NCAA Division I All-American and three all-region selections
• Posting cumulative grade-point averages of 3.0 or better in back-to-back years.
"The list of people to thank before I leave is a long one and includes Charlotte Doolin, Mindy Mager, Heath Senour,
Bob Roman, Thomas Strause, Ryan Mehan,
Al Barba, Taylor Rogers,
Sterling Brown,
Milton Overton, Vaughn Williams, and last but not least, Coach
Scott Whitlock," D'Amour said. "Coach Whitlock has been the perfect combination of boss, mentor, and friend these last two years and I will forever be grateful to him.
"Our assistant coaches here at Kennesaw State are as good as they come," D'Amour added. "Alysha Stanton was a calming influence for all of us. She brought a new perspective to things coming from Georgia Tech and did a great job with our catchers. Doug Gillis got our pitchers to buy in and the results were evident. There's nobody quite like him in the country. All of our pitchers are better now than when we arrived. That is a testament to Doug.
Alyssa Cousins was our staff's rock. She is one of the brightest young coaches I've ever been around. She knows all facets of the game and kept us all in check. She deserves a lot of credit for the success we had these two years.
"I'd like to thank my players," D'Amour continued. "They accepted me right from the jump, never got in trouble off the field, gave us their best effort, and ended up in the KSU record books. I couldn't have asked for a better group of young ladies to coach. This team will be loaded next year and it won't surprise me at all for these ladies to surpass the successes we had these last two years. No question, I'll be checking their box scores frequently.
"Kennesaw is a great place to work and live. I am honored to have played a part in the success of this storied program and am looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead," D'Amour added.
A national search for the next Kennesaw State head coach will begin immediately.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook. You can also follow head coach Pete D'Amour at @KSUSBCoach.
To learn more about The Owls Fund visit www.ksuowls.com/theowlsfund.
--#GoKSUOwls--
