BUFFALO, N.Y. – Vice President for Athletics and Planning Ona Halladay has announced the hiring of Shelly Hoerner as the Universities new Head Coach of the D'Youville Softball Program.

Halladay stated, "I am thrilled to welcome Shelly Hoerner back to Buffalo to lead our D'Youville Saints Softball program. Coach Hoerner has proven success at a very high level in both the division II and division I arenas. I am confident she will guide this program through developing a winning culture which will support the development of young women that are successful in the classroom and in the community."

Hoerner comes to D'Youville after seven years as the Head Coach at Appalachian State University with a 161-172 overall record there. Hoerner got her coaching start at the Division II level at Barry University as an assistant coach in 1996. During her time at Barry, she also worked as an assistant coach in Nice, France in 1998 for the Professional Fast Pitch League. Hoerner got her first Head Coaching position in 1999 at Valdosta State University. As her career continued, Shelly Hoerner also took the head coaching role at Barry University, College of Charleston, and the Georgia Institute of Technology along with an assistant coaching position at North Caroline State. In her tenure caching, Hoerner has an overall winning record of 699-623.

"I would like to thank President Dr. Lorrie Clemo and Director of Athletics Ona Halladay for the opportunity to come back home to Buffalo.  Being able to combine my passion for coaching and love for family made D'Youville Softball the ideal position for where I am in my career.  My family and I are extremely excited to get back to Buffalo where our roots began and continue to build on the foundation once laid years ago." says Hoerner.

In her time as a player, Hoerner was named All-SSC Player at Barry University and All-MAAC Player at Canisius College. Following her career, she has been inducted into the New York State Softball Hall of Fame and the Western New York Hall of Fame.

Hoerner also stated, "The vision, and commitment to athletics in such a short time at the Division 2 level, and the people of D'Youville made this position very enticing.  A new chapter for the softball program is here. You will see blue-collar, passionate, selfless, and gritty players who compete in everything they do.  Our teams will be fundamentally sound and students of the game. These young women will also be committed to being the best students and people they can be while being amazing ambassadors in our community as well.  We are committed to recruiting high-character student-athletes who embody our program and the university's core values. They will become leaders for life when they leave D'Youville Softball."