Erskine
Names New Head Softball Coach
Former
Lees McRae College Coach Tom Creola, the 1999 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic
Conference Softball coach of the Year, has been named head coach of
the Erskine College softball team, according to Erskine Athletic Director
Chip Sherer.
Creola,
head softball coach and Dean of Students at Lees McRae in Banner Elk,
N.C., the past four seasons, said, "I am looking forward to working
at Erskine and leading the softball program. The team has good players
returning, so I hope we can be competitive."
Creola
started the softball program at Lees McRae and in four seasons built
the team into a leader in the CVAC. He was named CVAC Coach of the
Year in 1999 after his team won 30 games and finished second in the
conference.
Creola
inherits an Erskine program that finished 17-26 last year (11-12 in
the CVAC) and finished sixth in the regular season. The highlight
of the season was a two-game sweep of five-time CVAC Champion Coker
on March 29.
"As
always in the sport of softball, the team is built around the pitcher
and catcher," Creola said. "Erskine has two pitchers and two catchers
returning, so I hope we can build on their experience for next season."
Creola
is a 1969 graduate of Salem College in Salem, W.Va. He earned a Master’s
Degree from Eastern Kentucky University in 1974 and a doctorate from
Nova University in 1984. He was an NAIA Baseball All-American at Salem
in 1969 and played minor league baseball for four seasons with the
Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
"I
am very excited to have someone with Tom’s experience to lead
our program," said Athletic Director Sherer. "His experiences
as both a coach and dean will allow him not only to be a good coach,
but be a good teacher for our players as well."
Creola
will remain at Lees McRae until June 30 and then began his preparation
for Erskine’s upcoming season.
Creola
replaces Traci Westmoreland who resigned April 19 after five seasons
at the helm of the Fleet’s softball program.
