VAN HOUTEN TABBED TO LEAD UNC WILMINGTON SOFTBALL
WILMINGTON, N.C. ? Kelly Van Houten, who helped guide one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks at Georgia State, has been named head coach of the UNC Wilmington softball program, Athletic Director Kelly Mehrtens announced Wednesday.
Van Houten becomes just the third coach in the 24-year history of fast-pitch softball at UNCW. She replaces Melissa Jarrell, who resigned in June after seven seasons.
Van Houten makes her way to the Port City after serving three years under legendary skipper Bob Heck at Georgia State, including associate head coach last season. As the program’s hitting instructor, she guided the Panthers to national rankings in numerous offensive categories last season, including batting average (.323/6th), runs per game (5.8/14th) and slugging percentage (.475/17th). Van Houten also played a key role in the development of back-to-back CAA Rookie-of-the-Year winners (Danielle Roddy and Catherine Lee) as well as the circuit’s first player to win both Player and Rookie-of-the-Year in the same season (Lee).
“Kelly is an outstanding coach who has had a positive impact on every program she has been involved with,” said Mehrtens. ”She is a tireless worker who is well respected by both her peers and the student-athletes she works with. We’re extremely pleased to have her become the new head coach of our softball program.”
The energetic Van Houten got her start in coaching at Belmont, where she worked as a graduate assistant while earning her Master’s of Education in Sports Administration. Following her time in Nashville, Van Houten joined another Atlantic Sun institution, spending two years as an assistant coach at Campbell University, where she was responsible for overseeing the infielders as well as assisting with the Camels hitting and base running efforts.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to join the UNC Wilmington athletic department as its head softball coach,” Van Houten said. “The Seahawks have a great foundation in place and I am ready for the challenge of taking the Seahawks program to the next level. I’m looking forward to many years of success here at UNCW.”
A native of Raleigh, Van Houten was a standout at Furman, where she was a four-year letter winner (1998-01) at shortstop and still ranks among the Paladin’s career leaders in assists. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science as well as a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science from Furman in 2001.