Lindenwood University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brad Wachler announced on Tuesday that Liz Kelly has been named the new softball head coach for the Lady Lions. Kelly has coaching experience at the International, NCAA Division I, and NCAA Division II levels.
 
"It is with great excitement that I become the softball coach for Lindenwood University," said Kelly. "I look forward to the opportunity to work with the players, staff, coaches, parents, professors, alums, sponsors, and community to create a competitive environment that provides a sound backdrop for the development of the student-athlete. 
 
"There is a new direction at Lindenwood, and I welcome my part in the plan. I appreciate the time and effort of Brad Wachler and the staff for all their assistance in my transition. My goal is to give a championship experience to student-athletes that includes life lessons, and create a team and institutional bond that lasts a lifetime."
 
"Coach Kelly brings a distinct and unique skill set to Lindenwood's campus," said Wachler. "She has coached at various levels of softball throughout her distinguished career, including experience as both a head coach at the Division I level and with the Dutch National Team that qualified for the 2008 Olympics. I am confident with Liz Kelly's experience and proven success she will be able to attract and retain quality student-athletes that enhance the overall mission and vision of the University and its Athletic Department. I have no doubt that she will provide a championship experience for many years to come and will quickly elevate the brand recognition of our softball program both regionally and nationally." 
 
Kelly comes to Lindenwood after coaching the last four seasons at Maryville University. Last season, the Saints had their best season in program history, going 39-16 and making the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time. The program had three wins over top-10 nationally-ranked programs, including No. 1 Indianapolis, and it advanced to the NCAA Midwest Region 2 Championship game.
 
Kelly won 86 games during her time at Maryville, and the team improved its number of wins in each season. She helped six Saints players earned all-conference honors, including three last season.
 
Kelly has won over 400 games as a collegiate head coach during a career which includes stops at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Miami University, and West Alabama University.
 
She coached at California, Santa Barbara from 1995-2001 and won 165 games, the most in program history at the time. Her top season came in 2000 when the Gauchos won 30 games and had a school-record 14 wins in the Big West Conference. Kelly was at Miami from 1989 to 1992 and won 113 games. Her squads had 30-win seasons in both 1990 and 1991. Kelly won over 60 percent of her games at West Alabama in 1987 and 1988. She was named conference coach of the year both seasons and won the 1988 conference championship.
 
Kelly started her coaching career as an assistant at California State University, Chico, and has also been an assistant coach at the University of Toledo, Arizona State University, and the University of Nevada, Reno.
 
Kelly also has international experience, including being the national coach of the Netherlands softball team from 2005-2008. She led the Netherlands to an Olympic qualifying berth for the 2008 Olympic Games. Her teams also won two medals at the European Championships, including a runner-up finish in 2007, and she was selected as the Netherlands Softball Coach of the Year in 2007.
 
From 2003 to 2004, Kelly was a member of the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee as a Technical Operations Manager, and from 2008 to 2012, she worked at the International Softball Federation as the International Director of Seminars. Other softball experience includes working for a year as the Softball Technical Advisor for America's Baseball Camps, and serving a year in Columbia, Mo. as the Director of Event Operations for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
 
Kelly played collegiate softball at Utah State University, and was a member of the 1981 team that won the AIAW National Championship. She also lettered one year for the Utah State volleyball team. She was inducted into the Utah State Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of that championship team, and is also a member of the Saratoga High School Hall of Fame.
 
Kelly graduated from Utah State with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education/recreation. She earned her Master's in public administration from California State University, Chico.