Oct. 15, 2002

Lexington, Ky. – The University of Kentucky softball program has announced the hiring of Kelly Kretschman, a former standout at the University of Alabama, as assistant coach. Kretschman, a Melbourne, Fla., native joins the UK staff after a celebrated career at Alabama, where she set numerous Southeastern Conference records.

Kretschman served as a student assistant coach for Alabama from Sept. 2001 through May 2002. In her playing career with the Crimson Tide, she was a four-time All-SEC and All-Region selection, as well as a four-time Easton and NFCA All-American. She was named to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team in 2000 and served as an alternate for the Olympic team in 2000-01. She led the NCAA in home runs and slugging percentage as a freshman in 1998.

“I’m very excited to join the staff at Kentucky,” Kretschman said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with such a fine staff and a great program.”

She received her bachelor’s degree in General Human Environmental Sciences from Alabama in 2002, where she was named as an Academic All-SEC from 1998-00 and a Verizon Second-Team Academic All-American in 2001.

Kretschman set SEC career records for batting average, home runs, runs scored, slugging percentage, hits, runs batted in, doubles, walks and fielding percentage. She ranks second in conference history in stolen bases and on-base percentage. Her 288 runs scored are the second most in NCAA history, while her 368 hits and 60 home runs rank fourth and fifth, respectively. She also enjoyed a 35-game hitting streak, third longest in NCAA history.

“We are extremely pleased and lucky to add someone like Kelly to our staff,” head coach Beth Kirchner-Pruitt said. “With her incredible softball knowledge and experience she will be a tremendous addition to our program.”

The softball team will officially kick off the 2003 season on Feb. 1, when they travel to Miami, Fla., to play in the Florida International Invitational Tournament.