UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball head coach Amanda Lehotak has resigned to pursue other professional opportunities outside of softball, effective July 13. Lehotak led the Nittany Lion softball program for the last seven seasons.
"This was not an easy decision as my time at Penn State has been nothing short of incredible," said Lehotak. "I am grateful for all the amazing people I was able to work with, especially my talented and dedicated staff. I've been lucky to coach some of the best student-athletes in my career and will always remember the growth they showed on and off the field to become the successful young women they are today. I am extremely thankful for the unwavering support from the Nittany Lion faithful of boosters, alumni and fans who showed up to each game at Beard Field and beyond. One of my principles I have always stressed to my student-athletes and my staff is to be where your feet are, and now it's time for me to do the same. I will forever look back at my time in Happy Valley with cherished memories and wish nothing but the best for the Nittany Lions."
"We are appreciative and grateful for Amanda's leadership of Penn State Softball these last seven years," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour. "She has been a valued member of our Nittany Lion family and the Happy Valley community. Preparing our softball student athletes for a lifetime of impact has always been at the forefront of Amanda's coaching focus and it showed in the care and passion she demonstrated for her students, our program and the sport of softball. We wish Amanda and her daughter, Dylan, nothing but the best for what the future holds as Amanda closes her intercollegiate coaching chapter."
Lehotak led the 2016 Nittany Lions to their most successful season since the 2011 campaign with 30 wins and a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten with a 14-8 record. Penn State registered a record-breaking .314 batting average with 468 hits which, included 75 doubles, and rewrote both the team and individual record books.
The 2016 offense had 23 games with 10 or more hits and scored 10 or more runs on nine occasions.
Lehotak and her Nittany Lions continued their offensive production in seasons to come, totaling a program-record 49 home runs in 2019. The 2019 pitching staff showed steady improvement and combined with the defense to shut out six opponents, the most since 2011.
The Penn State defense finished the shortened 2020 season with six shutouts, the most in the conference and a top-30 mark in the nation.
In her seven-year tenure, Lehotak helped 65 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors and 16 claim Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades. She developed four first-team All-Big Ten recipients and five second-team honorees.
In 2018-19, softball had a perfect 1,000 single-year APR score, it's first since 2014-15.
A nationwide search for a new coach will begin immediately.
