Bowling Green State University Athletics
Salsburg Named Head Softball Coach at BGSU
September 25, 2006 | Softball
Sept. 25, 2006
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University has announced the hiring of Shannon Salsburg as head softball coach. Salsburg, an Ohio native, will begin her duties on Wednesday (Sept. 27).
"I am thrilled to accept the head-coaching job at BGSU," said Salsburg. "First off, I want to thank Mr. (Greg) Christopher and Janna Blais for taking a chance on me and adding me to a quality University and softball program.
"I am extremely excited to get to campus to begin working with the student-athletes, and I am looking forward to what the future holds for the BGSU softball program."
Salsburg spent the last two seasons on the staff at Kent State University, helping the Golden Flashes to the Mid-American Conference East Division (one-half game ahead of BGSU) and MAC Tournament titles in 2006. Salsburg helped KSU shatter the school and MAC record for homeruns, with 54 last season. The team ranked 13th in the nation in that category.
KSU had an overall record of 33-24 and a league mark of 16-5 last spring. The Golden Flashes qualified for the MAC Tournament in each of Salsburg's two seasons in Kent.
"Shannon is a terrific fit and has all the ingredients to be successful and move our program forward," said BGSU Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Greg Christopher. "She competed at the highest level, has gained a variety of coaching experiences to develop her own style and she also understands the softball landscape in the Midwest.
"Shannon set herself apart from the other candidates, and we are thrilled to have her join Bowling Green Athletics. Any of our finalists could handle the coaching aspects, but Shannon's passion for the game, desire to take a program to the next level and commitment to building our student-athletes as well-rounded people won us over."
Prior to her two seasons at KSU, Salsburg served three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks post two of the top-three batting averages in school history during her time in Fayetteville. Arkansas advanced to the Southeastern Conference tournament as well as to NCAA Regional play in 2002. UA set school single-season records in batting average, homers, slugging percentage and on-base pct. during Salsburg's tenure.
"I am truly excited to welcome Shannon to our staff," said BGSU Associate A.D./Senior Woman Administrator Janna Blais. "Her familiarity with our conference and her contacts in our region will allow her to make an immediate impact on the recruiting front.
"I am confident that under Shannon's leadership our softball program will continue to compete for MAC championships and will not miss a beat."
In addition to KSU, Salsburg has worked at two other MAC institutions. She spent one season (2001) as an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo, and began her coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Akron, helping the Zips advance to the MAC Tournament in both years there (1999 and 2000).
A native of Navarre, Ohio, Salsburg is a 1998 graduate of Penn State University, where she was a four-year starter at first base. She captained the Nittany Lions in three of those seasons, and still holds the school career records for homeruns (34), runs batted in (118) and walks (99). A two-time All-Big Ten selection, she earned All-Great Lakes Region First-Team honors in 1995.
Salsburg received her bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1998, and earned her master's degree from Akron in 2000.
She will join the Falcons in time to accompany the team to its final tournament of the fall season. BGSU will participate in the Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic in Columbus this weekend (Sept. 30-Oct. 1).
Salsburg becomes the seventh head coach in BGSU softball history. She replaces Leigh Ross, who was named the head coach at Syracuse University in late August.
The Falcons are slated to return eight letterwinners from the 2006 squad that finished with an overall record of 37-23 and a MAC ledger of 16-6.
