WESTON, Mass. – Regis College Dean of Athletics Pam Roecker has announced that Ellie Adams will become the head coach of the Pride softball program, effective Sept. 6, 2022.
"Coach Adams brings a wealth of experience to Regis, both playing and coaching, and I am really excited to see the direction she is going to take with our softball program," said Roecker. "She has a passion for the game, a genuine and charismatic personality, and has put herself in position to be ready for this next challenge. Her playing and coaching experience at Aquinas College, which is very similar to Regis, is invaluable, and she brings a focus and understanding to the holistic approach to coaching. I know our current softball team members as well as recruits will be drawn to her positive energy, work ethic, and knowledge of this sport!"
Adams has been an assistant coach at Agnes Scott College, an NCAA Division III program located in Decatur, Ga., for the past two years. She was the primary hitting coach, plus she assisted Head Coach Kerry Busby with game strategy as well as recruiting and instructing players. In addition, Adams created social media content for both the softball team and the entire athletic department as the communications graduate assistant.
Besides her duties at Agnes Scott, Adams was also the head coach of the ATL Patriots 14U club team, developing players in the fundamentals of softball as well as executing practice plans and game management. She has also been an assistant coach at NAIA programs Aquinas College and Indiana Institute of Technology and NCAA Division III program Kalamazoo College.
Adams played at Aquinas College from 2013 to 2017 and is currently ninth on the Aquinas career home run list with 16 as well as 10th in career doubles with 38 and in career runs batted in with 105. As a senior, she helped the Saints post a 35-13-1 overall record, earning Second Team All-WHAC and All-Defensive Team honors after batting .331 with four home runs and 33 RBIs.
"It is an absolute honor to be named the next Head Softball Coach at Regis College! I want to thank Pam Roecker, Mark Clemente, Laura Ladino, Ron LeClair, and the entire hiring committee for believing in me and my vision for the program," Adams said. "I'm committed to the overall success of my student-athletes, both on and off the field. Regis College Softball will continue to pursue a culture of excellence from this point forward. I can't wait to get started with this incredible group of student-athletes!"
Adams, a 2017 All-WHAC Academic selection, received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and sport management from Aquinas College in May 2017 and her Master of Science degree in sport administration from Georgia State University in May 2022.
Shannon Colson will remain on the coaching staff as an assistant coach as she returns for her second year at Regis. The Pride finished fourth in the GNAC South Division in the 2022 season and qualified for the GNAC Tournament for the first time since joining the league.
Regis College sponsors 20 intercollegiate sports, including softball, within NCAA Division III as part of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH ELLIE ADAMS …
Kerry Busby, Head Softball Coach/Assistant AD for Recruitment and Eligibility, Agnes Scott College
"Ellie Adams is an extremely driven and caring coach. She holds those around her to a high standard of accountability and respect. Ellie thinks about the game from a very strategic perspective. She has prepared for this role for many years through working with a range of different programs, and I am very excited to see all that she accomplishes in the future."
Brad Koch, Head Softball Coach, Aquinas College
"Ellie is going to make a great head coach at Regis. Her knowledge of the game, care for her players, and work ethic will allow her to build the program in a positive direction. She brings joy, enthusiasm, and an infectious personality to the mix but also has always been a winner. Ellie knows what it takes to build a winning culture at Regis, and I'm certain her athletes will achieve success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community."
Kelli Duimstra, Head Softball Coach, Kalamazoo College
"I was so excited to hear Regis College hired Ellie as their head softball coach. I've known Ellie for 10 years, both as a player and a coach, and I know she's ready for this next step in her career. Ellie is a talented teacher of the game, and her positivity and energy radiates through her program. I'm confident Ellie will have a positive impact on the Regis College softball program and the athletic department as a whole."