BOSTON – Head coach Jaclyn Davis of the Suffolk softball program has made the difficult decision to step away from the program after nine seasons, as well as her responsibilities as the University's Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women's Administrator, to new opportunity, the Suffolk Athletics Department announced this morning.
Davis has taken her talents to Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey, where she will serve as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Women's Administrator.
"I would be remiss if I did not thank Coach Nelson for bringing me back to Suffolk nine years ago, this experience has been invaluable," Davis said. "I would also like to express my gratitude to Dean Ann Coyne, Cary (McConnell), Anthony (Del Prete) and the athletics staff for their support as I make this transition."
Davis continued, "Taking this professional opportunity at Georgian Court University and leaving Suffolk was one of the most difficult decisions that I have made. I am incredibly proud of the great work that we have done here (Suffolk) in the Athletic Department, as well as everything that we have built within the softball program. I am excited for the new challenges that lie ahead, but am also sad to leave this behind. My time at Suffolk and the people that I have met along the way will always remain close to my heart, especially my softball student-athletes."
A national search is currently underway to find the next coach of the Rams' softball squad.
"We wish all the best to Jackie," Director of Athletics McConnell said. "We appreciate her efforts during her time here and we know Jackie worked incredibly hard for the Rams and brought a high level of energy to the job on-and-off the field."
Davis was the 10th head coach in Suffolk softball history and quickly cemented herself as the winningest and most decorated of the 37-year old program.
Her impact started from the get-go as she led the Rams to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship series her first season, 2013, the program's first league title game since 2006. The blue-and-gold would not miss a GNAC tournament during Davis' tenure and made three appearances in the championship series in her time (2013, 2017, 2018).
Davis' Suffolk resume also includes being the mastermind of the program's winningest team in 2016 as she led the Rams to a 33-9 campaign. A year later, she solidified herself as the program's winningest coach with her 102nd triumph on the Rams' bench, an 8-0 shutout over Emerson, March 30, 2017. She hangs up her whistle with a 204-170 career record including a 181-141 stint at Suffolk (.562).
The 2016 GNAC Coach of the Year coached and developed over 150 student-athletes in her time in Boston, many of who excelled both athletically and academically. Under her guidance, the Suffolk softball program received numerous accolades including a pair of Fast Pitch News (FPN) Preseason All-Americans, 11 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honorees, a pair of GNAC Players of the Year, one GNAC Rookie of the Year and over 35 all-conference selections. Academically, she mentored one CoSIDA Academic All-American Taylor Holmes, and over 50 student-athletes to NFCA Scholar-Athlete Status.