SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush announced today that Marissa Leslie has been named head softball coach for the Rams. Leslie replaces Danielle Easton, who resigned to pursue other interests.

Leslie comes to Shepherd after spending the last three years as an assistant softball coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. She helped lead the Bobcats to a 143-31 (.822) mark with three consecutive MEC championships over that period. The team made three regional and super-regional appearances and qualified for the NCAA II College World Series in 2017. The Bobcats finished the 2017 season ranked third in the final NFCA NCAA II Poll with a 51-10 record. Leslie was a member of the NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.

Prior to coaching at Wesleyan, Leslie worked at Barry University as an assistant coach for two years where she specialized in fundamentals and conditioning.

"We are really excited to have Marissa join our department," said Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush. "She has a great background both as a student-athlete and coach. We look forward to her continuing the success that our program has recently garnered." 
 
Leslie is a 2012 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. She was a four-year letterwinner at shortstop for the Crimson Hawks. IUP won a pair of PSAC championships over her career and qualified for the NCAA II College World Series in 2011. Leslie was PSAC Freshman of the Year and was named PSAC Tournament MVP as a senior.

Leslie earned a master's degree in performance enhancement and injury prevention from California University of Pennsylvania in 2015.

Shepherd posted a record setting 41-22 record last season and ranked 25th in the final NFCA NCAA II Poll.