Susan Kocher Named Head Softball Coach
7/6/2010 3:58:20 PM
BLOOMSBURG—Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics Mary Gardner has announced the hiring of Susan Kocher as the head softball coach at the school. Kocher replaces legendary coach Jan Hutchinson who retired at the end of the 2010 season after 33 years of coaching.
Kocher spent 23 years as an assistant after playing four years for Hutchinson. Combined she has been part of 1,104 wins as both player and coach.
“I am obviously excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at Bloomsburg, but at the same time it is an odd feeling to no longer work with Jan after 23 years of a tremendous work relationship, friendship and development of a successful softball program,” said Kocher. “Bloomsburg is the only place I can imagine coaching softball. I am honored to be chosen as the one to have the opportunity to carry on the successful tradition here.”
As an assistant coach Kocher was integral part of the Huskies great success over the last two decades. As the Huskies pitching coach she has coached eight players to All-American status, including 2010 second team All-American Shavaun Fisher who posted 35 wins, second most all-time for a single season in school history. In addition, under Kocher’s watch 32 no-hitters, six of them perfect games, were tossed while she served as the pitching coach.
“Susan is an outstanding choice for the position,” said Gardner.” She has been a valuable asset to the program for the past 23 years, primarily responsible for the pitchers and managing the fall program as well. I believe the softball program will continue to be one of the most competitive programs in the PSAC and the region under Susan’s direction.”
A two-time All-American herself and three-time All-PSAC selection as a pitcher, Kocher is the only pitcher in school history to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter on the same day.
In addition, she had a career record of 71-13 and boasted an earned run average of 0.47. She struck out 485 batters and threw eight no-hitters for the Huskies, including two perfect games. At the plate, she had a fine career as a hitter, with 71 RBI and 65 runs scored.
In 1999 Kocher was one of five inductees into the Bloomsburg Athletic Hall of Fame and most recently was named to the Capital Area chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
She is a native of Camp Hill, PA, and graduated from Bloomsburg in 1987.