For Immediate Release
July 31, 2012
Courtesy of Saint Anselm Athletics Communications
Manchester, N.H. – Saint Anselm College
Director of Athletics, Dr. Kelly Higgins,
announced Tuesday that Shawna Bellaud has
been hired as the new softball head coach, effective Sept. 3.
"After a thorough review, I was very excited to be able to offer
the position to Coach Bellaud as the next Softball Coach for the
Hawks," Dr. Higgins said of his first hire since taking over the
Saint Anselm athletic department July 1. "She is from the area,
knows Saint Anselm, has the best interests of the student-athlete
as a priority, competed at Lock Haven with an NCAA DII national
championship runner-up team, knows the game as a student-athlete
and coach, and has also worked as an assistant for her former head
coach at Coastal Carolina. We are looking forward to working with
her – she gets it."
Bellaud, a native of Hooksett, N.H., arrives on the Hilltop after
spending last season as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina
University, where she worked under her former head coach from her
playing collegiate days, Kelley Green. Bellaud helped lead the
Chanticleers to a Big South Tournament championship, as well as an
NCAA Division I regional appearance, while coaching three
All-Conference First Team players and the conference's Co-Rookie of
the Year.
Bellaud was a part of the 2009 NCAA Division II Coaching Staff of
the Year when she served as a student assistant coach at Lock Haven
University working under Green. That year, the Lady Eagles captured
the National Championship after winning the PSAC, as well as the
NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
"I am excited for this opportunity to take the helm of the softball
program at Saint Anselm and take the Hawks to the next level,"
Bellaud said. "I look forward to working with the student-athletes
and the college to build this program into a top NE-10 contender. I
would like to thank Dr. Kelly Higgins, Donna Guimont and the rest
of the hiring committee for believing in my ability to lead this
program."
Bellaud played two seasons at Lock Haven, helping the Lady Eagles
to a pair of conference titles, as well as two NCAA Mid-Atlantic
Regional Championships. Lock Haven finished third, nationally, her
senior year, after earning the runner-up spot as a junior. Prior to
that, Bellaud was an All-Conference First Teamer, team MVP and
captain at New Hampshire Technical Institute for two seasons.
Bellaud has also been the head coach of the Hurricanes U18 Softball
Team in Salem, N.H., since Aug. 2009 and served as head coach of
the NH Hammerheads U18 Softball Team in Hooksett, N.H., for two
years before that. Bellaud also has other connections in the area
as she served as an instructor at Play Ball Indoor
Baseball/Softball Training from 2009 to 2011 and at MVP
Baseball/Softball Academy from 2005 to 2009.
Bellaud received her B.A. in Accounting from Lock Haven in December
of 2009. She currently resides in Hooksett.
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