McGaughey will head Clarkson’s new softball program

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012

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POTSDAM — Clarkson University has announced the selection of Kristen McGaughey as the head coach for the Golden Knights’ newly formed softball program.

McGaughey, who most recently served as the assistant coach for the softball team at Bethany College in West Virginia, will use the 2012-13 school year to begin recruiting student-athletes for Clarkson’s first softball season in the spring of 2014.

Softball will be Clarkson’s 20th intercollegiate team. The Golden Knights are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and participate at the Division III level in the Liberty League.

“I feel very honored and privileged to be the first softball coach at Clarkson University,” McGaughey said. “Clarkson is a tremendous school with an athletic department full of tradition and success. I am looking forward to contributing to that success as the program grows over the next few years. The Liberty League is a tough conference and it is my hope to continue to improve upon its strength in the sport. I am anxious to get to work.”

In her four seasons on the Bison’s softball staff under head coach Jan Forsty, McGaughey helped Bethany to 101 victories, including a school-record 35 in 2010.

A native of Massillon, Ohio, McGaughey was a standout softball player at Division II Ashland (Ohio) University from 2004-08. She finished her collegiate playing days ranked third in career home runs (19) and fifth in career RBIs (99) at Ashland. McGaughey earned First Team All-Great Lakes Region and Second Team All-GLIAC as a junior in 2007 after slugging 11 home runs and driving in 38 while batting .355. As a senior, she hit three home runs and had 32 RBIs to receive Honorable Mention all-conference honors.

McGaughey earned a biology degree from Ashland in 2008 and a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia University in 2011.