Mike Pelland
Mike Pelland

Bio

Mike Pelland enters the first season of his second stint as the head coach of the Franklin Pierce University softball program in 2016. He previously served two seasons (1993-94) as the head coach of the Ravens, during which he amassed a 26-43 record (.377 winning percentage) over 69 games, including a 12-15 mark (.444) over 27 games in New England Collegiate Conference play. Pelland becomes the program's 10th head coach in the Division II era (he was also its third) and its first full-time head coach.

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. Hatfield also later served as the program's head coach.

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.