DANVILLE, KY—Centre College Hall of Famer Wendie Austin-Robinson, currently head women's softball coach and interim women's basketball coach, will return next year as head coach for both teams.

"I'm so excited to be able to stay with both programs," says Austin.  "They're both very dear to me. I've been involved with Centre basketball for a long time and we've worked hard building the softball program for the last six years. We have wonderful young women competing for both programs and I'm fortunate to be able to coach them.  With basketball we're very excited about Jacqueline Coleman returning and helping us out along with Michelle. We have a very nice recruiting class coming in and look forward to getting the program back to a strong competitive level.  With softball, I'm very fortunate that Chris Mason has agreed to be the associate head coach, taking on even more duties, along with Brian Deem returning to work with the program. I'm fortunate the College has surrounded me with such a strong staff."  

"We're extremely pleased that Wendie has decided to stay with both sports. It's a testament to the loyalty she's inspired on both teams," says Brian Chafin, director of athletics and recreation. "Wendie has had an excellent year recruiting for the softball and basketball teams. Both teams will have solid leadership for years to come."

"I think it's nothing but great news that she will be returning as head coach for both programs," says Jennifer Mareese, a freshman from Jacksonville, Fla. and, along with Rebecca Rhule and Monica Vonderbrink, one of three student-athletes who play both basketball and softball for Centre. "Although the two sports are quite different, she brings the same type of passion, commitment and enthusiasm to both. The softball program has made great strides over the years, and it will be exciting to see the same thing happen for the basketball program under her direction. I look forward to three more years of playing for and learning from someone who has the pride for Centre College and Centre Athletics that she does."

"I really enjoy playing both sports for Coach Austin," adds Rhule, a freshman from Versailles, Ky. "I'm really glad that she's staying with both programs. I couldn't imagine playing for anyone else in either sport."

"Coach Austin has done a great job with both programs,” says Vonderbrink, a sophomore from Danville. “She is extremely dedicated to both and would do absolutely anything for any of us. It's hard for me to imagine playing either sport without her always in my ear.  We appreciate all she does for both sports and I’m so glad to hear that she'll be sticking with them next year."

Austin-Robinson will take on several new assistants. Jacqueline Coleman '04, a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville and former director of basketball operations at U. of L., will assume graduate assistant duties for the basketball team. Michelle Feistritzer, who coached basketball at Boyle County High School for 13 years (seven as head coach) will be part-time assistant women's basketball coach.

Chris Mason, who last year served as a part-time assistant coach for the softball team, will become associate head coach. Brian Deem will be assistant coach.

The softball team just finished its second straight season with 19 wins, matching a school record set one year ago. Their conference record was 8 and 4. The young women's basketball team finished the season 4-19 overall (2-12 SCAC), but will return seven players for next year.

Earlier this year, Austin-Robinson was selected to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's 15th Anniversary women's basketball team.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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