After three seasons, Michelle Krassinger has resigned as head softball coach at Culver-Stockton College.
Krassinger, who was hired in August 2006, cited the need to be closer to her aging parents, who live in the St. Louis area, and also expressed an interest in exploring other educational opportunities that would allow her to "evolve professionally" after 18 years as a softball coach.
"The bottom line is, I have to be able to spend more time and be more available to my parents," Krassinger said. "It has been getting tougher and tougher each year to be away, and I had to prioritize things and find out what is more important.
"I valued the time I spent at Culver-Stockton and my return to the NAIA. I will leave behind many strong friendships, and I hope that I have impacted some of the lives of the people here as they have impacted mine. I wish Culver-Stockton and Wildcat softball much success in the future."
Under Krassinger's watch, the Wildcats posted a 65-73 overall record and were 32-28 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Her first team in 2007 advanced all the way to the NAIA Region V championship game as the eighth seed before falling to Columbia College. Krassinger has recorded a 594-362 record in 18 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Off the field, Krassinger's Wildcat teams were honored as a NAIA All-Scholar team in 2008; she also had 10 players named NAIA Scholar-Athletes, and one player named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America District VII team.
The next coach will inherit a team that returns all but one senior from the 2009 roster, including All-HAAC first team selection Katelin Goddard, second team pick Danielle Kaltmayer and honorable mention selection Katie Thomas, who will be seniors.
"There will be a void left by the departure of Michelle Krassinger," said Melik Peter Khoury, vice-president of enrollment management and college marketing. "Michelle built a really nice program and recruited gifted student-athletes who excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Whoever replaces Michelle will have her to thank in the future as they reap the rewards of her hard work."
Khoury said the search for a new coach would begin immediately.
