Shawn Rychcik Accepts Head Coach Position at NC State
July 6, 2012 | Softball
July 6, 2012
BOSTON - Shawn Rychcik has resigned as the head softball coach to take a similar position at NC State, Boston University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced today. A national search will begin immediately.
"We are sorry to see Shawn leave Boston University," Lynch said. "Over the past ten years he has helped develop an elite softball program in the northeast. He has set the bar very high by recruiting exceptional young women who exemplify the best of this institution, but I am confident we will find a successor who will grab the torch and lead the team to even greater heights. We wish Shawn and his family the best."
Rychcik joined the Terriers in 2003 as an assistant coach before taking the reins in 2005 as the head coach. Over an eight-year period, he posted a record of 271-159-1 (.630), guiding BU to three America East titles in the last four years along with three NCAA postseason bids. He was named the America East Coach of the Year on four occasions.
"I'd like to thank Mike (Lynch) for hiring me eight years ago and giving me this wonderful opportunity," said Rychcik. "It's been an incredible experience working with these special student-athletes. Thank you to (Deputy Director) Drew Marrochello and (Senior Associate Athletic Director) Nancy Lyons for giving me the support needed to build this program. I'd also personally like to thank (Associate Athletic Director) Alan Weinberger for giving me the support needed to build this program as the sport administrator. He's been a great mentor and personal friend to me and the program. It's hard to leave here with so many great memories. I'll always be grateful to everyone at BU."
Last season, Rychcik led BU to a 41-16 overall record, as the Terriers claimed their third straight America East regular season title and eighth overall. Hosting the America East tournament, BU swept through the competition to claim the program's ninth conference crown and sixth NCAA bid. The most successful season occurred in 2009 when the team went 43-18 and reached the finals of the Georgia Tech regional.
Under Rychcik's tutelage, the Terriers were honored with numerous end-of-the-year awards, including four Player of the Year honors, four Rookie of the Year honors and three Pitcher of the Year honors. April Setterlund ('11) was his most accomplished player, as she earned the program's first-ever All-America First Team accolade in 2010 after hitting an astonishing .482 at the plate while adding 52 RBI and 12 homeruns.
In the classroom, the Terriers were just as successful, recording a perfect 1000 multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score for each of the past three seasons. This past year, Emily Roesch was named America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while teammate Erica Casacci garnered Boston University's Student-Athlete Service Award for her work with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and her time spent with numerous volunteer organizations.
Rychcik's successor will inherit a team that returns seven All-Conference honorees that helped the program finish with an RPI ranking of 47.
