June 23, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Georgetown University today named Pat Conlan to be head coach of its women's softball program. Softball will be the 27th varsity sport played on the Hilltop and the first sport added to the Hoya ranks since women's golf in 2000. Conlan will immediately begin the process of building the new program which will be competing as an independent in the 2006 season. Conlan brings 13 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Hoyas and served the prior two seasons as the pitching coach at North Carolina State University.

"We are proud to have Pat join our coaching ranks," stated Associate Director of Athletics Kim Simons. "She brings a wealth of experience at the highest level of women's softball. Pat has succeeded at every collegiate stop and has been extremely focused on molding the overall student-athlete both on the field and in the classroom. We are excited to have Pat lead our newest varsity sport here at Georgetown."

"We are proud to have Pat join our coaching ranks. She brings a wealth of experience at the highest level of women's softball." Associate Director of Athletics Kim Simons

In her previous 13 years of coaching Conlan has proven successful with each program she has been a part of. Last year at NC State the Wolfpack finished with a 41-25 record and Conlan helped pitcher Abbie Sims earn All-ACC honors and All-South Region. The six seasons prior to NC State were spent at Conlan's alma mater the University of Connecticut where she helped the Huskies finish in second and third place in the BIG EAST Conference in the 2000 and 2001 seasons respectively. While the head coach at Fairfield University for three seasons Conlan was honored with Metro Atlantic Coach of the Year in 1997 after leading the Stags to a school record 29 wins.

During her longtime involvement with the collegiate game Conlan has also made it a priority to become a helping member of the community. She has organized community service projects for three organizations focusing on helping underprivileged families and cancer victims. She started Project Joy at the University of Connecticut, which involved having each team in the athletic department "adopt" an underprivileged family. Conlan also was instrumental in Strike Out Cancer, a softball fundraiser to raise money for the American Cancer Society, and has been a mentor in the Nutmeg Big Brother Big Sister Program for the past three years.

As an assistant coach at NC State Conlan was responsible for assisting in all phases of a Division I program in the Atlantic Coast Conference including recruiting coordinator, budget preparation, NCAA Compliance, team travel, practice and game planning, training and community service. In her two seasons with the Pack she was instrumental in the Wolfpack's success as NC State pitchers held opposing batters to a combined 1.71 ERA, a .199 batting average and recorded 491 strikeouts in 447.1 innings pitched last season and posted a 2.10 ERA, 456 strikeouts and a .225 batting average in 399 1/3 innings pitched in Conlan's first season. Prior to her arrival at NC State, Conlan spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Connecticut Huskies. In 2001, she was a member of the National Fastpitch Coaching Association Northeast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year after directing the team to the BIG EAST Championship.

Beyond her time at UConn Conlan was the head softball coach at Fairfield University for three seasons, a position she gained after assisting for one year. As the head coach at Fairfield, Conlan helped the Stags to a runner-up finish in the 1997 MAAC Tournament and the program's first winning season since 1988.

As a player at UConn, Conlan led the Huskies to a fifth place finish in the 1993 Women's College World Series. In that year, Conlan earned All-American status, was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, first team All-BIG EAST, All-New England, All-ECAC and All-Northeast. During her four years as a player, her teams captured four BIG EAST Tournament titles, while she compiled a 55-17 career record. She also set school records for wins in a season (26), shutouts in a season (14), complete games (26) and consecutive innings without allowing an earned run (73.2). Her 1993 ERA of 0.33 ranked second nationally as she allowed just 11 earned runs in 231.1 innings.

"I am extremely excited to join the Georgetown University and the Athletic Department," stated Conlan. "It was apparent from the moment I stepped on campus that Georgetown was the place I wanted to be. Starting a program from scratch is going to be a challenge and I am looking forward to working hard and bringing the great Hoya athletic tradition to the softball field!"

Conlan earned a bachelor of science in human development and family studies at the University of Connecticut in 1993 and is working towards her master's of education.