June 7, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini has announced her resignation. According to Director of Athletics Dave Joyner, Penn State will immediately launch a national search for her successor.
"I am very appreciative of Robin's contributions to the softball program and Penn State," Joyner said. "Robin has developed her softball student-athletes as exemplary representatives of Penn State. We thank her for 17 years of loyal service to Penn State University, and wish her all the best."
Petrini recently completed her 17th season at Penn State. She is the softball program's victories leader (489-437-2) and longest-tenured head coach. Petrini was able to develop a nationally competitive softball program that since 1999 has had 11 winning seasons, nine of which included 30-plus wins. During her career, Petrini's teams have qualified for eight of 10 Big Ten Tournaments, as well as the 2013 conference tournament (12 teams); and have made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, with the most recent appearance in 2011 (the first season a Penn State field met NCAA specifications to host). Among Big Ten teams, only Michigan, Iowa and Northwestern have had more NCAA appearances since 1999.
During Petrini's tenure, Penn State had four NFCA All-Americans, including 2013 first-team team honoree Cassidy Bell; two National Professional Fastpitch players; one top-25 candidate for USA Softball Player of the Year (2013); the first player in program history invited to a USA National Team Tryout (2013); 48 All-Big Ten selections; 22 CoSIDA Academic All-District selections; six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, three of whom were first-team honorees; and more than 100 Academic All-Big Ten selections.
Petrini also made her mark on the national scene. She was a member of the prestigious NCAA National Softball Committee (2008-2011), a two-term member of the All-America Selection Committee and a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Staff.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached at Penn State," said Petrini. "I would like to thank all of the wonderful student-athletes I have coached over the years, as well as Jen McIntyre (associate head coach) and assistants who have contributed so much to the success of the Penn State Softball Program.
"I am especially grateful to Bill and Lee Beard and all our loyal donors for their roles in taking Nittany Lion Softball Park from a dream to reality," Petrini added. "I am very proud of my role in helping to produce one of the best softball facilities in the nation - the host site for the 2011 NCAA Regional Tournament. Through the years I have been blessed with a fantastic grounds crew, support staff, booster club and fans."