Shannon Padula

The University of the Sciences is proud to announce Shannon Padula as the new Devils Head Softball Coach, taking the helm at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

"We are very excited to have Shannon as our Head Softball Coach here at USciences. Shannon is a great fit, as she has had so much success at the Division II level as a player and coach. I'm excited to watch our program have that same success with Shannon at the helm," Associate Director of Athletics for Operations and Development Scott Sisson said.

Coming to the Devils Athletics Department via West Chester University, as a once standout pitcher and team MVP for the Golden Rams, as well as an assistant coach at her alma mater. Padula returned to West Chester after two seasons as an assistant coach at Division I Rider University. Before her time at Rider, Padula spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Division III Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham, while working on her master's degree in Sports Administration.

"I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the program here at University of the Sciences.The potential of this softball program is very exciting," Padula said, "I look forward to getting know our current student-athletes and to get recruiting to bring in great talent to keep building this program."

As a four-year starter for the Golden Rams, Padula helped the Golden Rams to back-to-back NCAA Division II region appearances in 2008 and 2009. After an all-conference season during her sophomore year, Padula went on to break 12 school records over her final two seasons. She became the first pitcher with more than 20 wins in a single season, finishing with 24, maintain the school record to this day, along with holding four career marks and three single-season marks still.

After her one season as an assistant with the Golden Rams, West Chester reached their best record in program history finishing 48-9 on the season. Though no stranger to success, Padula's Fairleigh Dickinson team was the first team in school history to reach the MAC Championship game in her final season.

While at West Chester, Padula also participated in the Leadership Challenge Series and the State Farm Leadership Retreat and was a participant in the Molly Shepard Mentor Program, which exposes students to Women in Leadership Positions. Since 2009, Padula has also interned for the West Chester University Department of Athletics, Comcast Sportsnet and the New York Giants of the National Football League. Padula is December 2015 graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy which is held twice a year by the Alliance of Women Coaches.