Aug. 22, 2000

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Megan Bryant has been hired as head coach of the University at Stony Brook softball program, the Stony Brook athletic department announced Aug. 9. Bryant takes over for Diane Hobin, who coached the team for four seasons.

Bryant brings 15 years of Division I experience to the Stony Brook softball program, which competed at the Division I level for the first time in the 2000 season. She spent the last year as an assistant coach at St. John's. Prior to that, she was the head coach at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1988-99. Before Bryant's arrival, the Bulldogs had endured five straight losing seasons and three straight last-place finishes in the Missouri Valley Conference. After a 13-44 finish her first season, Bryant led Drake to a 33-24 record, 10-6 in the MVC, in 1990, which earned her MVC Coach of the Year accolades. In 1993, just four years after her arrival, Drake won both the MVC regular season and tournament titles while compiling a 35-16 record (13-3 MVC), the most wins in a season in school history. Bryant once again received MVC Coach of the Year honors. In 1994, Drake repeated as MVC Tournament champions and obtained a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs registered winning records six times and finished in the top four in the MVC five times in the last eight seasons Bryant was at the helm.

Prior to Drake, Bryant served as the assistant coach at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., in 1988.

Bryant began her college coaching career at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., where she compiled a 63-30 record as head coach from 1985-87. Bryant inherited a program that had begun just the season before her arrival, and in only her first season she led Stetson to the New South Athletic Conference championship in 1986, receiving NSAC Coach of the Year honors. Stetson repeated as NSAC champions in 1987.

Bryant also spent four years as a physical education instructor and head coach at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, N.Y., from 1981-85.

In addition to her coaching expertise, Bryant has also served on two NCAA committees. She was a member of the NCAA Certification Review Equity Subcommittee in 1995 and a member of the NCAA Division I Softball Midwest Region Committee from 1994-95.

Bryant graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, K-12. Bryant competed in both volleyball and softball at Bridgeport.