LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven University has announced that Kelly Shannon has been named the head softball coach for the Lady Eagles.

Shannon, who’s spent the last six years as an assistant on Kelley Green’s squad will take over the helm of the two-time National Champion Lady Eagle squad.

"I am extremely excited for this opportunity to take over the LHU softball program,” Shannon said. “It has been a honor to coach here for the past six years and I could not pick a better University to begin this new phase in my career, transitioning from an assistant to a head coach.”

“I look forward to continuing the excellent tradition here that is Lock Haven softball,” she added.

As the top assistant with The Haven program over past six seasons, Shannon assisted in all facets of the game including recruiting.

Shannon was the LHU’s primary pitching coach and a big reason behind the success of Kristin Erb, who capped off her career as one of the most dominating pitchers NCAA softball has ever seen, as Erb shattered numerous school, conference and NCAA records.

LHU Director of Athletics Sharon E. Taylor is also pleased with the announcement.

“We feel fortunate to have Kelly (Shannon) accept the position of head coach of our softball program,” Taylor said. “She was a significant part of the success of the team during the six years that she and Coach (Kelley) Green worked together, especially with her contributions as pitching coach.”

“Kelly’s prominent role in the recruitment of the incoming freshman class of student-athletes gives us stability in the program and gives the new players a sense of continuity,” Taylor added. “I look for her to continue the tradition of LHU softball, while putting her own imprint on the program.”

Shannon and former head coach Kelley Green, who accepted the head coaching job at Coastal Carolina were named 2009 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Coaching Staff of the Year following Lock Haven’s second National Championship.

Shannon was the assistant on the staff that led LHU to the National Title in ’06 as well.

Prior to her time at Lock Haven, Shannon was at Mansfield University, where she served as an assistant coach from 2002 through 2003 and helped lead the Mountaineers to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament runner-up finish in her final season.

Prior to Mansfield she held assistant coaching duties at Division I Bucknell University from 2000 through 2002, focusing her energies on the Bison pitching staff and supervising the team weight training and conditioning efforts. While at Bucknell, she also aided in recruiting, scouting, fundraising and other daily and weekly on and off-the field coaching duties.

A 2000 graduate of Mansfield University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Shannon was a two-time NFCA Division II Mid-Atlantic All-Region selection and a 2000 Second Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division selection. The Mansfield University Spring 2000 Athlete of the Year and 2000 Woman of the Year, Shannon still holds the Mountaineer career (366) and season (125) strikeout records.

Also an outstanding student, she earned NFCA Academic All-America honors twice and was a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete.