Many of the former coaches and players who have contributed to the rich tradition of Ashland University softball will return in January for a unique camp – the AU Softball Legacy Camp.
The camp will be at the Niss Athletic Center on Jan. 3 from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and will feature pitching, hitting, infield, outfield, catching, base-running and recruiting sessions with 10 former Eagle coaches and former players who currently coach in collegiate softball.
The list of former and current coaches returning for the camp reads like a who's who of Eagle softball:
- Sheilah Gulas – 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Famer and 2024 Ashland University Hall of Famer who went 723-365-1 (.664) with 12 NCAA Division II postseason appearances guiding the Eagles from 1997-2017. Won 929 games as a collegiate head coach overall.
- Karen Linder – Was Ashland's head coach from 1986-96, leading the program to its first D-II playoff appearance in 1996 and finishing at 253-200-1 (.558). Also a head coach at Kent State from 1997-2015, she won 804 games as a collegiate head coach.
- Jenn Castle – Has been Marietta's head coach for nine seasons after one year at Alvernia (161-145-2, .526 total). Also was Marietta's assistant coach for nine seasons, after being an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pitcher/outfielder for the Eagles.
- Bill Graham – Between head coaching stops at Penn State-Altoona (current), Indiana, Pa., and Saginaw Valley State, he sports a career record of 389-241-1 (.617). He served as an assistant for the Eagles from 2008-09.
- Josie Henry – A 2014 AU Hall of Fame pitcher, she was a third-team D-II All-American in 2003 for the Eagles. She will has program career records for strikeouts (1,109) and earned-run average (1.11). A 17-year head coach at Case Western Reserve, her career record is 433-207 (.677).
- Emlyn Knerem – Currently serves as an assistant coach at Belmont, now in her third season. From 2018-24, she was the Eagles' head coach (127-162, .439), and during her Ashland playing days, was both an Academic All-American (third-team in 2012) and a two-time D-II All-American (2010 second-team and 2012 third-team). She won a program-high 95 games as an Eagle hurler.
- Bob Lance – A volunteer assistant coach for The College of Wooster, he was an assistant coach for Ashland from 2017-24. He also served as a longtime area high school softball coach at Norwayne and Smithville High Schools.
- Paige McMenemy – She is entering her first year as head coach at Ohio University, following five seasons guiding Tiffin's softball program (152-108, .585). After transferring from Akron, she pitched two seasons for the Eagles (2017-18), and was second-team All-GLIAC in 2017.
- Shonda Stanton – Beginning her 10th season as head coach at Indiana, she is 892-634-2 (.584) in her first 27 seasons as a collegiate field general between the Hoosiers, Marshall and IUPUI. She also is the head coach of the Chicago Bandits of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. From 1996-98, she was a graduate assistant for the Eagles.
- Jexx Varner – Currently in his first year as the head coach at Kent State, he has a mark of 211-263 (.445) in 11 previous seasons as head coach at Lafayette and Robert Morris. He was an assistant coach at Ashland for one season in 2010.
"Obviously, I grew up in the area, so my first experience with Ashland softball was as a camper at age 12," said Ashland assistant softball coach
Lane Leedy. "At that time, I think it was Sheilah and
Jen Steffey. You came in, and everybody was here. There was
Sunny Litteral,
Alicia (Longstreth) was playing. All of those people who signed my picture when I took it home. So I know the rich tradition of Ashland softball.
"I also know that, when I am out and about, I am working with Paige McMenemy, I'm working with Shonda. Great experiences with everyone who has been involved. I was like, 'Wouldn't it be cool if we brought everybody back who's either coached or played here? And that list is extensive, that's still in the NCAA. You ask enough people, and everybody's like, 'Yeah, that's amazing, let's do it.' Plus, all these people want to get together."
The price for the camp is $110 per session, and $75 for each additional session.
Since starting fastpitch softball for the 1983 season (then-Ashland College played slowpitch softball from 1967-82), the Eagles have gone 1,190-802-2 (.597) with 14 D-II playoff appearances (1996-99, 2002-03, 2009-15 and 2026).
In 2026, under second-year head coach
Jackie Price, the Eagles finished 33-19 overall and 17-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and won a D-II playoff game.
