Dominions athletic program has announced Fawna Ruley as the new head coach of the Varsity softball team for the upcoming 2018-2019 season. The major development came after the entire softball coaching staff resigned after a disappointing 6-14 season last year. Ruley will be tasked with picking the remaining coaching staff to rebound after last years season.

“I have coached for years, and I wanted to have an impact on a larger playing field. I wanted to use my experience of playing the sport and my coaching experience coaching to help build this program into something this community can take pride in,” said Ruley about why she wanted to be the head coach of the program.

The process for hiring a new softball coach was a long one, as the hiring process went right up to the first day of tryouts. Athletic Director Mr. Peters explained what they were looking for in a new coach, he said, “Experience in coaching high school athletes, playing experiences, knowledge of game, practice and game management, communication with players and parents are all things that we look for in hiring a new coach.”

Even though she just took over the program, Ruley has big plans and goals for the team. She said, “I have high expectations for the year considering that there are so many returning players. The first goal is to win more games then the previous year, and the second goal is to be at the top of the conference.”

Ruley plans on making changes to the atmosphere of softball at Dominion, she said, “I will do a few things differently than the last coaches. What I know is young ladies work better off of positivity. I am also hoping to do more team bonding, so the girls strengthen their bond with each other.”

Ruley is a very experienced player in her own right. From 1996 to 1999, Ruley played softball at the University of Maryland, on the all-time records list for games played, games started, hits, doubles, and stolen bases. As a Terrapin, she played 229 games while starting every game besides two. Ruley was a very versatile player, as she played catcher, outfield, and shortstop and was a four year starter as well as the captain of the team. She won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 1997, while she was a terrapin, and her team went to Super Regionals of the College World Series for softball. In her junior year, she was an All Conference shortstop and her team was ranked no less than fifteenth in the country for the entire season.

“I am very excited that I was able to play my senior year with Coach Fawna in the program. She brings a lot of experience, which will help grow our program tremendously,” said Sara Holland about Mrs. Ruley becoming the head coach.

Ruley will be able to decide the remaining coaching staff with approval from the county to help her manage the team and to reach of her goal to be conference champions.