Houghton Names Allen Head Coach for Softball
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Brianna Allen has been named head coach for the Houghton College softball program, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics H. "Skip" Lord announced Friday, June 5.
Allen served as an assistant with the Highlander program during the 2015 season, in addition to her role as the department's facilities marketing and scheduling coordinator.
Allen played two years of Division I softball at Niagara, where she made 14 starts in 29 appearances as a pitcher while recording a 9-9 record and throwing seven complete games. She was named First Team All-Academic MAAC as both a junior and senior. She also served one year as a graduate assistant coach at Alfred University, while completing her master's of business administration.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., and graduate of Aquinas Institute, Allen was the 2008 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Softball Player of the Year, the New York State Class A Player of the Year and the All-Class Player of the Year as she led her team to the state title. She set or tied Section V records for wins (29), shutouts (19), no hitters (7), strikeouts (342) and innings pitched (214) as a senior.
"Brianna has already established herself as a key member of our athletic department, so I am excited that she will be taking the reins of our softball program," said Lord. "Her knowledge of the game, the experiences she brings both as a player and coach, and the relationships she has already made with current and incoming players, are key as the program establishes itself as a team to beat in the Empire 8."
In her administrative position, Allen is charged with developing and executing a marketing plan for the use of the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex and other athletics facilities. She also handles sponsorship sales responsibilities within the department.
Allen also served as a graduate assistant in athletics facilities while completing her MBA at Alfred. In that role, she was charged with supervising the Fitness Center and Health and Wellness Center. She coordinated all court reservations and the master schedules between intramural sports and athletics. She also advertised and promoted facility programs and monitored student and community usage of the center.
"I am very excited to begin the next phase of my softball coaching career and I look forward to continue building a program that that glorifies God while competing with excellence," said Allen. "I am so fortunate to be able to work with such a wonderful group of young women and I can only hope that my style of coaching, character, and dedication to this program will lead them in a direction of success both on and off the field."
Allen earned her bachelor's degree in sport management with a concentration in facility operations from Niagara University in 2012. As an undergraduate, Allen interned with Niagara's athletics department in the areas of event marketing and promotions. She also had a summer marketing internship with the Niagara Power – a team affiliated with Fellowship of Christian Athletes – of the New York Collegiate Baseball League, where she gained experience in promotions, sponsorship sales, design, advertising and managing the team events calendar.