Former coach returns for second stint in Rindge

RINDGE, N.H. (June 30, 2015) – Franklin Pierce University Director of Athletics Bruce Kirsh announced on Tuesday that Mike Pelland has been named the new head coach of the Ravens softball program. Pelland becomes the first full-time head coach in program history and will head up a team that is on the rise in the competitive Northeast-10 Conference. He is the program's 10th head coach in its Division II era.

"I am very pleased to announce that Mike Pelland will be our next head coach for Ravens softball," Kirsh said. "He is a proven winner everywhere he has been and I firmly believe he will provide the leadership necessary for Franklin Pierce to become a contender in the Northeast-10 Conference. He is a competitive, yet compassionate person, and I look forward to watching the program flourish under him."

Pelland is no stranger to the Franklin Pierce softball program, as he served in the same capacity for two seasons from 1993-94. He set the program record for wins in '93 with 10 victories, and then topped that mark the following season with 16 triumphs, which still stands as the highest single-season total in school history.

Pelland coached several standouts during his two years, and whose names still can be found atop the program record book a little more than 20 years after he guided the team. Among the standouts was FPU Athletics Hall of Fame honoree Stacy Torgerson, who is tied for first in program history with 26 career wins in the pitching circle. Pelland also mentored Lori Oleskewicz, who owns the school record for career batting average with a .359 clip. Several other standouts also set single-season school records, including Lauren Hatfield, who posted new highs for hits (52) and batting average (.481) during the 1993 campaign.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to join an emerging softball program such as Franklin Pierce," Pelland said. "It's been over 20 years since I last coached here, but to see how much the program has grown during that time is special. I look forward to working with the student-athletes as we embrace the challenge of advancing the program even further on the conference, regional and national levels."

In addition to Franklin Pierce, Pelland has produced a stellar career as an AAU softball coach, high school coach and as an education administrator -- recently serving as the principal at Goodrich Academy in Fitchburg, Mass. from 2003-15. Prior to becoming the principal at Goodrich, Pelland was the assistant principal at Fitchburg High School from 1994-2000, followed by a similar stint at Memorial Middle School in Fitchburg from 2000-03.

Pelland has coached AAU softball from 2012-15 and has produced several impressive coaching accomplishments at the high school level as well. He began his coaching career as the head coach for St. Bernard's High School from 1985-88, including leading the team to the 1985 state championship and taking the 1988 team to a district title and runner-up finish in the state tournament. After his successful run at St. Bernard's, he spent one season as an assistant coach for Franklin Pierce before taking over the reins of the program. Pelland also coached the Oakmont Regional High School program from 1997-2000.

Pelland has held other duties associated with the sport of softball throughout his career, including serving as a collegiate umpire, umpire chief, tournament supervisor of officials and a camp director for various clinics. Overall, Pelland has been associated with the sport of softball for 44 years.

The Franklin Pierce softball program is on the verge of becoming a contender in the Northeast-10. The Ravens return several letterwinners over the last two seasons, which has seen the program pick up important wins against some of the top programs in the league. Franklin Pierce also calls the Melissa Bisaccia Memorial Softball Complex as its new home, which premiered to rave reviews in 2014 with a new playing surface and fencing to enclose the facility in the center of campus. Dugouts were added prior to the 2015 season and more additions are planned for the near future, including permanent seating and a press box.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).