Friday, June 30, 2006

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- - Melissa Gentile resigned as JU head softball coach and assistant coach Amanda Lehotak has been promoted to head coach of the JU softball program. This was announced today by JU director of athletics Alan Verlander. Gentile leaves JU after just one season as the Dolphins had a 22-37 record, going 6-14 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. She is leaving JU to pursue an opportunity with the Fastpitch Learning Academy in Clearwater, Fla.

"This was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but it's a once in a lifetime business opportunity that I just couldn't pass up," said Gentile. "It was a hard decision that made easier knowing that Amanda would continue the vision that we shared for this program. There is no end to the potential of the JU softball program and I look forward to watching it grow rapidly in the next few years. I really want to thank Alan and the administration who have been nothing but supportive in giving us the tools to take this program to the next level."

Lehotak is third head coach in the JU softball program's history and takes over after spending the past year as the top assistant to Gentile.

Lehotak came to JU after helping Missouri Western State College to a 48-20 overall record and a spot in the Division II North Central Regional as an assistant coach in 2005. "I am excited about the opportunity to take over the program here at JU and continue to build off of this past year," Lehotak said. "This program has a lot of potential and I look forward to continuing what we started this past season."