EUGENE, Ore. – After six seasons, Head Softball Coach Julie Strand has announced her resignation, effectively immediately.
Strand will be leaving coaching and her role as NCU’s Athletic Event Coordinator to focus on her family-run sign business, which she will take over in the next year.
“After much prayer and contemplation, I have decided to resign as Head Softball Coach and Athletic Event Coordinator,” said Strand. “It has been an honor and blessing to have coached at NCU. I am most fond and proud of the incredible girls that have graced the program. I look forward to seeing it continue to grow and thrive.
“I personally want to thank our athletic administration Corey, Sarah, Nick, Liz, and our VP Michael Fuller for all your support and effort in helping our student athletes succeed both on the field and in the classroom. I’d like to thank all of the wonderful young ladies that have come through the softball program for all their heart and dedication. Lastly, a thank you is not enough to express how grateful and appreciative I am of my Assistant Coach Jim Patrick for the time, effort, dedication, and work that you have put in over the last two years. It has been a blessing and honor to work alongside you.”
Just the second coach in Beacon softball program history, Strand gained a reputation for recruiting student-athletes that exemplified NCU’s “Tri-Athlete” model, with success in the classroom and in the community, with a Christ-Centered focus.
Strands teams were always ranked in the top-two in the CCC for grade point average, averaging a 3.39 GPA over the last six years. Softball also achieved 100% chapel attendance and was among the leaders in the department for community service, averaging 100’s of hours each year.
Strand collected 65 victories during her career, coached nine All-Conference selections and 15 NAIA-Daktronics Scholar Athletes.
Athletic Director Corey Anderson said, “I have loved working with Julie during her coaching career while at NCU. Coach Strand has always been a great example of hard work and ‘can-do’ attitude. Not only did she display these qualities on the diamond, but also in her role as our event coordinator for athletics. While I am happy for Julie and the opportunity that she has with her family business, I am saddened as we are all going to miss Julie tremendously in her day-to-day activity on campus.”
A national search will commence immediately for the third coach in program history. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.nwcu.edu/employment or contact Corey Anderson (canderson@nwcu.edu).