University of Delaware Athletics
John Seneca Named University of Delaware Softball Head Coach
6/26/2015 4:26:00 PM | Softball
Seneca has served as an assistant coach on the Blue Hen staff since the start of the 2012 season, and has assisted with all aspects of team operations including practices, recruiting and opponent scouting reports.
“I am honored to become the head softball coach at Delaware, and I would like to thank the search committee for the opportunity,” Seneca said. “Having been a member of the coaching staff for the last four seasons, I feel that I have an excellent rapport with the players and administration. I am excited about the future of the softball program and cannot wait to get started.”
“Following a search process that involved reaching out to many of the country's top programs, we determined that Coach Seneca was the best fit for our softball program moving forward," said Ziady. "John has been an integral member of the coaching staff throughout the last four years, and has done a great job providing stability to our program in an interim role the past two months. He is committed to our focus on the overall student athlete experience, and will do a great job helping to develop our softball student athletes academically, athletically, and socially."
This spring Seneca helped lead Delaware to 30 victories, the fifth most in a UD single season, while the squad set school single season records for runs scored, RBI, doubles and home runs. Jessica Grisler graduated from Delaware as the program's career leader in runs scored and hits, while freshman Leanna Gearhart tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 11 triples and fellow rookie Mariah Kondravy belted a UD single season record 15 homers.
Following the season Kondravy became the first freshman in school history to earn first team all-region honors, while Grisler was a second team pick. Kondravy and Gearhart were also named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team, the third consecutive year the Blue Hens placed at least two players on the league's all-rookie squad.
Prior to arriving at Delaware, Seneca served as head coach of the Allentown Patriettes from 2006-11, leading the squad to a 201-36 record while competing in ASA, PONY, and USSSA regional and national tournaments. He also was the head coach at Saucon Valley High School from 2006-09, guiding the team to a 68-28 mark.
Seneca, a 4-Star NFCC Master Coach and a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, holds a bachelor of science degree in technical management from DeVry University.
Seneca becomes just the fifth head coach in Delaware softball history since the sport began at UD in 1976.
TRANSACTIONS: Delaware - Named John Seneca Softball Head Coach
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
