Position: Head Coach
Alma Mater: Providence College '96
When head coach Amy Kvilhaug was hired in August of 2006, a new
era began in the St. John’s softball program. With Kvilhaug’s
proven tradition of winning and vast amount of experience in the
BIG EAST, the Red Storm can only continue to flourish under her
guidance.
Kvilhaug has spent the last four seasons as head coach of the
Radford University Highlanders in Radford, Va. While at
Radford, she took the program to new heights and molded it into one
of the top teams in the Big South. She comes to St. John’s
with a 127-115 overall record compiled at Radford. After
winning 17 games in her first year, she led her teams to three
consecutive seasons with 30 or more victories. It marked the
first seasons in Radford history where the team posted back-to-back
winning campaigns.
Last spring, Kvilhaug guided Radford to its first 40-win season,
posting a .645 winning percentage. Under her direction,
Radford’s pitching staff ranked ninth in the nation with a 1.12 ERA
as the Highlanders made their first-ever appearance in a Big South
Championship game.
Over her four seasons with Radford, Kvilhaug had 17 Highlanders
earn all-conference honors, with eight on the first team, which is
one more than the Highlanders had in its first 11 seasons of
softball. She was named Big South Co-Coach of the Year in 2005
and leaves Radford as the all-times wins leader.
"I am absolutely thrilled at the opportunity I have been
presented with,” said Kvilhaug. “St. John's is a fantastic
university with so much to offer, including a premier athletic
program that I am honored to be a part of. I plan to set high goals
and standards for the program and will look for us to be a strong
and successful contender in the highly competitive BIG
EAST.”
Kvilhaug is no stranger to the BIG EAST as she was a four-year
pitching standout with the Providence Friars from 1993-1996. She
made an immediate impact on the program earning BIG EAST Rookie of
the Year, first team All-BIG EAST, second team All-New England and
Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament MVP honors all in
her freshman season. Kvilhaug served as a team captain during her
last three years on the team, leading the Friars to a BIG EAST
Championship in 1994 and the ECAC Championship in 1995. She
graduated from Providence as the single season leader in
appearances (30), games started (29), innings pitched (215.2) and
wins (24).
“As a former player and assistant coach in the BIG EAST I am
excited to return,” said Kvilhaug. “The BIG EAST is one of the
toughest softball conferences in the country. I am ready for
the challenge of not only competing at this level but also
excelling with my new team. I want to see St. John's competing
for postseason bids consistently."
She later served as an assistant coach at her alma mater from
1999-2002, after making coaching stops at Seton Hall, Rutgers and
Florida Southern.
Kvilhaug graduated from Providence with a bachelor’s of science
in marketing and has started working towards her masters in
guidance and counseling. Originally from Taunton, Mass.,
Kvilhaug currently resides in Queens, N.Y.