The UNCW softball team will open up its 2001-2002 season with something that they have not had for 18 years – a new coach.

Melissa Jarrell, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate and former Tar Heel softball player, was hired by the UNCW athletic department on August 1.

Jarrell has extensive experience coaching at the collegiate level. She spent two seasons as head coach for the University of California-San Diego and seven more at Rhode Island. She has even flirted with the ranks at the professional level, in a summer stint with the Georgia Pride. After that, Jarrell stepped out of the coaching world and into a private business here in Wilmington.

For nearly two years she lived and worked here in town and happened to be here this summer when veteran coach Maggie St. Ledger resigned from her 18-year post. Jarrell viewed the opening as a perfect opportunity to get back into the sport, so she decided to apply for the job and got it.

Maggie St. Ledger’s name had all but become synonymous with UNCW softball. Last year she had the longest active tender of any athletic coach currently at UNCW and graduated countless numbers of student-athletes during her reign. However, an extremely disappointing 2000-2001 season stirred up lots of criticism and put into doubt for many her ability to put together a winning team.

“We are definitely going to miss her,” said junior Tiffany Lindemann, who went on to say that it was “a good decision” that St. Ledger resigned.

“I was sad to see her leave, but I’m excited to have someone new here,” said junior Mary Susan Hilliard. “After a while you need a change.”

That seems to be the general sentiment of the team – saddened by the loss of the program’s matriarch but excited by the prospects of something new.

Jarrell has a lot of work ahead of her and admits that she has not even seen “all the faces” of her players yet. She also realizes that it is a big step for her and the players, since she is replacing someone who was sort of an icon for area softball fans.

“The fact that Maggie was here for 18 years says a lot about her commitment to being part of UNCW athletics and really getting the program started…it’s kind of a hard thing for some people when somebody steps down when they have been there that long,” Jarrell said. “We’re gonna work through that the first year. Anytime there is a new coach coming in there’s anticipation on both sides.”

Despite the disappointing 22-42 season last year, Jarrell is very optimistic about the team’s chances for this upcoming season. They are returning 11 players, including three of four all-conference players – Lindemann, senior Audrey White and sophomore Lauren Mattox. She feels that having four all-conference players on a team that finished second-to-last in the conference shows that this team has enormous potential.

“She’s really positive. I’m really excited about [having Jarrell as a coach],” Hilliard said.

“I think that Melissa is ready to bring the program to higher heights,” Lindemann said.

Jarrell brings a new style to the table, preaching a philosophy and emphasis on the fundamentals. “I’m a firm believer in the basics…we’ll break down a lot of things.”

The regular season will not begin until the spring, but the team play in some very important exhibition games this fall. These games will be the first time that the coach and the players will get to see each other in action, as they prepare to make some noise in the Southern Conference this year.