New face will lead Muskingum softball
NEW CONCORD — A familiar face will lead the Muskingum University softball program.
Laina Connor, a 2016 Muskingum graduate, returns to the Muskies to take over the program from long-time coach Kari Winters, who is the university's athletic director.
The school announced the hiring on Monday.
Connor returns to New Concord after serving the past three seasons as the head softball coach at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. During her tenure at Juniata, Connor built a competitive culture for the team to thrive. The team set several Top 10 program records, had multiple student-athletes earn all-conference accolades, and two Eagles were named National Strength and Conditioning All-Americans.
She also oversaw all aspects of the team, including recruiting, building team culture, developing student-athletes, practice planning, and implementing game strategy. Along with her coaching duties, she was also responsible for managing the team's budget, fundraising, inventory, traveling planning, and adhering to all NCAA DIII rules.
"It brings me great joy to see Laina take over the reins as our next softball coach," Winters said. "I am looking forward to watching her leave her legacy on our program from recruitment through graduation of our young women. Her passion for this program and appreciation for the institution will shine in all aspects of her tenure, and we are excited to bring Laina back home."
Before her time at Juniata, Connor served as an assistant coach for the Denison softball program. Connor planned and managed the daily pitching/catching workouts, oversaw all recruiting aspects, organized youth camps and clinics, and conducted academic meetings with student-athletes.
In 2018 and 2019, Connor's final two seasons with the Big Red, she helped manage the team to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the North Coast Atlantic Conference Tournament. Additionally, under Connor's tutelage, the Big Red was honored with 11 All-NCAC players, five NCAC All-Tournament team honorees, and a Conference Player of the Year.
"Muskingum is home, and I am ecstatic to return," Connor said. "I want to thank President Hasseler and Director of Athletics Kari Winters for this opportunity to lead and mentor the Muskingum softball program. Muskingum University and Muskie softball impacted my life as a college student, and now I look forward to this opportunity to guide other young women to find confidence and strength in who they are. My goal is to prepare every player to become winners in life as well as on the diamond. It is time to begin the next chapter in the long legacy of Muskingum softball."
Connor was also a graduate assistant at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania before going to Denison. With the Titans, Connor helped Westminster to the Presidents Athletic Conference Tournament championship game and aided in the development of four all-conference student-athletes and one all-region honoree.
Connor (Walker) was a four-year member and team captain for the Muskingum softball team during her collegiate career. She helped the Muskies to their 19th Ohio Athletic Conference Championship and to the NCAA Regional final in 2014.
She graduated from Muskingum in 2016 with a B.A. in business management and marketing. She completed her Master of Education from Westminster in 2018. She is married to Matt Connor '14, and they have one son, Ahren.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: New face will lead Muskingum softball
