July 15, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University head softball coach Leslie Phelan solidified her coaching staff for the upcoming season by naming Shanon Searle her first assistant. Searle, who graduated from WKU in 2001 and played two years under Phelan, joined the Hilltopper coaching staff as an emergency hire in the fall of 2002.
"Shanon did a great job in her first season with us," said Phelan. "She brings youthful enthusiasm to the program, which is something that we needed. Her familiarity with WKU is a plus when relating to both recruits and current players."
Searle transferred to Western in 2000, the program's inaugural year, from Palomar Junior College, where she was named the 1999 Pacific Coast Conference Player of the Year after batting .356 with 34 RBI. She served as a tri-captain in both of her seasons with the Hilltoppers and still holds the single-season records for putouts (429) and fielding percentage (.985).
Though only 24, Searle, who graduated with a degree in public health education, has already amassed a wealth of coaching experience to her r?sum?. She served two years as an assistant coach for the Bowling Green Blitz, a summer traveling team, and spent one year as an assistant coach at Warren East. That year, she helped guide the Raiders to a regional title and a spot in the state tournament. Prior to joining Phelan's staff last year, Searle had been the junior varsity coach at Poway High School, where she graduated from in 1997.
The addition of Searle rounds out a staff, that also includes volunteer assistant coach Pete Phelan.
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