February 4, 2014
Brittany Robinson Named Head Softball Coach at New Paltz
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Brittany Robinson, a former four-year varsity student-athlete at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been chosen as the head softball coach at the State University of New York at New Paltz, as announced Thursday by New Paltz director of athletics Stuart Robinson.
"I am extremely thrilled to welcome someone like Brittany to the New Paltz community," Stuart Robinson said. "Brittany's experience as a collegiate player and her passion and engagement in softball were clear characteristics that made her a strong fit for this position. Anytime you receive comments that say, 'Although she will be a very good coach, no matter how good of a coach she is, she will be an even better person,' that is the type of person we want at New Paltz. I look forward to working with her and seeing what she does with the continued improvement of the program."
Robinson most recently served as an assistant coach with the Wil Devils Softball Club, which is a member of the Semi-Pro National Softball League in Switzerland. Her duties with the team included managing practices and games for the softball club, the baseball club and the juniors club.
"I look forward to taking over a program with eager women who want to work hard to get to the point where they are competitive not only in the conference, but nationally," Robinson said. "I'm honored to work at New Paltz, where both academics and athletics are held in high regard."
Prior to her coaching experience in Europe, Robinson worked as the head softball coach and a teacher at Northern Vance High School in Henderson, N.C., from 2011-13. Northern Vance benefited greatly from her expertise, placing third in the Carolina Conference and making the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 3A state playoffs under her guidance in 2011. That season, she was nominated for Carolina Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Robinson spent her undergraduate career competing for North Carolina, playing both second base and third base across four seasons for the Tar Heels. During her tenure in Chapel Hill, North Carolina went 173-66-1, qualified for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship Tournament three times (2008-10) and captured the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular-season title in 2008. A three-year starter who competed in 179 contests, Robinson hit for power, boasting 19 doubles and 14 home runs.
A born leader who excelled both on and off the field in college, Robinson was a Rising Stars graduate while at North Carolina, serving as a key member of the department's leadership academy. Academically, she was a member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2009 and 2010, and earned All-ACC Academic Team honors in 2010. Following her junior season, she received National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete recognition.
North Carolina head softball coach Donna Papa, a 2012 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee with a 1,094-590-5 career record as a collegiate head coach, believes that Robinson's character and leadership will help guide her as she assumes the reins of the Hawks' softball program.
"I am excited for Brittany and her opportunity to lead the New Paltz softball team," Papa said. "Brittany had a very solid career here at the University of North Carolina. She did the right things on and off the field as a student-athlete and has a very good character. She knows the game of softball and has been successful at many levels. Brittany will be a good role model for her team. She will be able to instill a winning mentality as well as a strong work ethic in her team. I am very proud of her and wish her the best on this new journey."
Janelle Breneman, who currently serves as the head softball coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, coached Robinson for three years (2008-10) when she worked as an assistant coach at North Carolina. Breneman stated that Robinson's knowledge and passion for the game will pay dividends for New Paltz's softball team.
"Brittany was a very talented student-athlete and always played with such passion," Breneman said. "Brittany will add knowledge and the desire to compete to the softball program. The Hawks are going to benefit from her leadership, and I am excited for Brittany's opportunity to positively impact student-athletes."
A five-sport athlete at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, N.C., Robinson found her niche in softball, earning All-State and All-Conference recognition in each of her four years there.
Robinson earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication, exercise and sport science from North Carolina in 2011. She received her post baccalaureate teaching certification from East Carolina University in 2013.
New Paltz begins its 2014 season from Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1, at the Beach Blast Classic hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Va.
"I am extremely thrilled to welcome someone like Brittany to the New Paltz community," Stuart Robinson said. "Brittany's experience as a collegiate player and her passion and engagement in softball were clear characteristics that made her a strong fit for this position. Anytime you receive comments that say, 'Although she will be a very good coach, no matter how good of a coach she is, she will be an even better person,' that is the type of person we want at New Paltz. I look forward to working with her and seeing what she does with the continued improvement of the program."
Robinson most recently served as an assistant coach with the Wil Devils Softball Club, which is a member of the Semi-Pro National Softball League in Switzerland. Her duties with the team included managing practices and games for the softball club, the baseball club and the juniors club.
"I look forward to taking over a program with eager women who want to work hard to get to the point where they are competitive not only in the conference, but nationally," Robinson said. "I'm honored to work at New Paltz, where both academics and athletics are held in high regard."
Prior to her coaching experience in Europe, Robinson worked as the head softball coach and a teacher at Northern Vance High School in Henderson, N.C., from 2011-13. Northern Vance benefited greatly from her expertise, placing third in the Carolina Conference and making the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 3A state playoffs under her guidance in 2011. That season, she was nominated for Carolina Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Robinson spent her undergraduate career competing for North Carolina, playing both second base and third base across four seasons for the Tar Heels. During her tenure in Chapel Hill, North Carolina went 173-66-1, qualified for the NCAA Division I Softball Championship Tournament three times (2008-10) and captured the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular-season title in 2008. A three-year starter who competed in 179 contests, Robinson hit for power, boasting 19 doubles and 14 home runs.
A born leader who excelled both on and off the field in college, Robinson was a Rising Stars graduate while at North Carolina, serving as a key member of the department's leadership academy. Academically, she was a member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2009 and 2010, and earned All-ACC Academic Team honors in 2010. Following her junior season, she received National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete recognition.
North Carolina head softball coach Donna Papa, a 2012 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee with a 1,094-590-5 career record as a collegiate head coach, believes that Robinson's character and leadership will help guide her as she assumes the reins of the Hawks' softball program.
"I am excited for Brittany and her opportunity to lead the New Paltz softball team," Papa said. "Brittany had a very solid career here at the University of North Carolina. She did the right things on and off the field as a student-athlete and has a very good character. She knows the game of softball and has been successful at many levels. Brittany will be a good role model for her team. She will be able to instill a winning mentality as well as a strong work ethic in her team. I am very proud of her and wish her the best on this new journey."
Janelle Breneman, who currently serves as the head softball coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, coached Robinson for three years (2008-10) when she worked as an assistant coach at North Carolina. Breneman stated that Robinson's knowledge and passion for the game will pay dividends for New Paltz's softball team.
"Brittany was a very talented student-athlete and always played with such passion," Breneman said. "Brittany will add knowledge and the desire to compete to the softball program. The Hawks are going to benefit from her leadership, and I am excited for Brittany's opportunity to positively impact student-athletes."
A five-sport athlete at Arendell Parrott Academy in Kinston, N.C., Robinson found her niche in softball, earning All-State and All-Conference recognition in each of her four years there.
Robinson earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication, exercise and sport science from North Carolina in 2011. She received her post baccalaureate teaching certification from East Carolina University in 2013.
New Paltz begins its 2014 season from Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1, at the Beach Blast Classic hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Va.
