May 9, 2006
Release courtesy of Darren Miller, Cornell College sports information director

MOUNT VERNON , IOWA . . . Shanda Ness, who guided Gustavus Adolphus College to 164 wins in eight seasons, has been named head softball coach at Cornell College. Ness replaces interim coach Kevin Kahler, who led Cornell to a record of 7-24 this season.

The first team Ness coached at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn., went 9-20 and she finished with five consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins and one conference championship.

“I’ll be drawing on my years of experience at Gustavus Adolphus and I hope to be able to build a program at Cornell as well,” Ness said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to coach in the Iowa Conference and I really think Cornell has a bright future ahead of it.”

Ness earned a bachelor of science degree in health, physical education and recreation from Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., in 1993. She received a master of arts degree in teaching from Northern State in 1994. From 1994-97 Ness coached and taught at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., where she started the softball program. From 1997-2005 she coached and taught at Gustavus Adolphus. Last summer Ness worked as assistant athletic director at Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine, before taking the job as recreation coordinator for the city of Waterville (Maine) in August 2005.

Ness, who was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003, will also be an assistant volleyball coach at Cornell. She held similar positions at Dakota Wesleyan and Gustavus Adolphus. Ness has 10 years of experience as an instructor for physical education and health science courses.

“Coach Ness brings us years of proven success that will immediately make a positive impact on our softball program,” Cornell Athletics Director Tina Hill said. “She is a proven leader who knows what it takes to get the job done. I expect our softball team to be a force to reckon with very soon.”

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