Softball Welcomes Beth Krysiak as First Assistant Coach

May 15 - (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – As the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Athletics prepares for the first varsity softball season, head coach Monica Harrison is announcing the hire of Beth Krysiak as her full-time assistant coach. Krysiak will begin her duties in Pittsburgh on June 1 with the first varsity season set for spring 2019.

"I am very excited to have Beth on staff to help guide the inaugural softball program here at Carnegie Mellon," said Harrison. "The University and I have very high expectations for this program and Beth is the perfect person to help us reach those goals in fairly short order. Beth comes to us with an amazing playing and coaching experience which will make for a positive impact from day one."

Krysiak brings to Carnegie Mellon a wealth of softball knowledge after a five-year head coaching stint at the University of Dallas following three years as an assistant coach beginning with a graduate assistantship at Ottawa University in Kansas.

While at Dallas, Krysiak compiled 79 wins, the second most by any coach in program history. She coached the program's first-ever Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Player of the Year in 2017 and mentored three All-Americans, two of whom earned the award in her second season at the helm.

"I am excited for the opportunity to join the Tartan softball staff," said Krysiak. "I look forward to joining an athletics staff committed to not only supporting the students in excelling in the classroom, but also in their athletic endeavors. I look forward to being a part of the first softball program at CMU and the chance to work under Coach Harrison's passion and knowledge."

Prior to her work at Dallas, Krysiak spent the 2013 season as the assistant coach for Praire View A&M University, an NCAA Division I institution in Prairie View, Texas.

Krysiak is no stranger to recruiting high-academic caliber student-athletes and will bring nation-wide recruiting experience to Carnegie Mellon after recruiting players from all over the United States in her previous stops as a coach.

"Given Beth's background, she will be able to hit the ground running on the recruiting front with her extensive relationships and understanding of the caliber of student-athlete we are looking for here at CMU."

As an assistant coach, Krysiak will work primarily with the bullpen staff as well as with other areas of team development.

"Beth's energy, passion, and skills will help elevate the team to the national stage, which is our ultimate goal with this program," said Harrison. "We are very fortunate to have a coach as great as Beth on staff as we begin the journey of introducing Carnegie Mellon to the softball landscape of Division III."