Long Island University Women's Softball

Rich Calvert was named the fourth head coach in LIU's Division I history on May 15, 2025. Calvert enters his first season at LIU in 2026 after a successful 21-year run at Drake University (2003-2023).  Calvert completed his tenue at Drake as the winningest coach in program history, amassing 568 wins, which currently ranks fifth all-time in Missouri Valley Conference softball history. Under Calvert's guidance, the Bulldogs won Missouri Valley regular season titles in 2015, 2018, and 2019, and conference tournament titles in 2008, 2018, and 2019. Multiple former players earned individual honors under Calvert’s tutelage including Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Mandi Roemmich (2018), and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and current MVC career strikeouts record holder Nicole Newman (2018-2019), among several other all-conference selections. Calvert and his staff at Drake also earned four Missouri Valley Conference Coaching Staff of the Year awards (2011, 2015, 2018, & 2019). A native of Taylorville, Illinois, Calvert graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Physical Education (1988) and a M.S. in Sports Administration (1990). Calvert started his career at Illinois State where he served as an undergraduate assistant coach (1986-1988), graduate assistant coach (1989), and later a full-time assistant coach (1990-1992). During his time with the Redbirds, Calvert helped lead ISU to two Gateway Conference titles (1988 & 1991) and one NCAA Tournament appearance (1988). Calvert then moved on to assistant coaching roles at Ohio State University (1993-1996) and the University of Iowa (1997-2002) before landing the head coaching job at Drake. During his time at Iowa, Calvert helped the Hawkeyes to five NCAA Tournaments and two Women's College World Series appearances, while winning Big Ten Conference titles in 1997 and 2000. Calvert and his wife Diane have five children, Allie, Maci, Nate, Rachel, and Breck.

Gehrke performs a number of roles for the program, including the implementation of game strategy and the coordination of national recruiting efforts. In his tenure, the Blackbirds won no fewer than 20 games in 15 consecutive seasons from 1996-2010, including seven straight Northeast Conference Tournament or regular season championships. The 2010 team won a program-best 39 contests, and the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 squads captured the NEC Tournament championship, thus earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. A tireless worker, Gehrkes knowledge of the game has been instrumental in developing over 80 all-conference players over the last 20 seasons. His innovative softball mind has helped to develop the Blackbirds successful pitching and defensive strategies. In 2002, Gehrkes efforts did not go unnoticed as he was a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year award. Criteria for the award include longevity, knowledge, long-term success and special contributions to the school and/or community. Before accepting his post at LIU, Gehrke spent nearly 20 years coaching, running and promoting training clinics in girls and womens softball. From 1985-87, he served as head softball coach at St. Francis (N.Y.). Gehrke completed two years of study at Brooklyn College in 1981. He has acted as director of softball programs at several private athletic associations and provided individual training throughout the area. Gehrke currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. Bill Gehrke begins his 21st season as a member of the LIU Brooklyn softball coaching staff in 2014-15. Gehrke performs a number of roles for the program, including the implementation of game strategy and the coordination of national recruiting efforts. In his tenure, the Blackbirds won no fewer than 20 games in 15 consecutive seasons from 1996-2010, including seven straight Northeast Conference Tournament or regular season championships. The 2010 team won a program-best 39 contests, and the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 squads captured the NEC Tournament championship, thus earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. A tireless worker, Gehrkes knowledge of the game has been instrumental in developing over 80 all-conference players over the last 20 seasons. His innovative softball mind has helped to develop the Blackbirds successful pitching and defensive strategies. In 2002, Gehrkes efforts did not go unnoticed as he was a recipient of the AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year award. Criteria for the award include longevity, knowledge, long-term success and special contributions to the school and/or community. Before accepting his post at LIU, Gehrke spent nearly 20 years coaching, running and promoting training clinics in girls and womens softball. From 1985-87, he served as head softball coach at St. Francis (N.Y.). Gehrke completed two years of study at Brooklyn College in 1981. He has acted as director of softball programs at several private athletic associations and provided individual training throughout the area. Gehrke currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Ryan Henry was announced as an assistant coach with the Long Island University softball program on April 10. Henry joins the LIU coaching staff after one professional season playing with the New York Rise on the heels of a standout playing career at Villanova University. In five seasons at Villanova (’19-’23), Henry made 215 career appearances with 197 games started, posting a career batting average of .263 and career OPS of .835. She racked up 144 hits and 31 home runs, ranking her third all-time on Villanova’s career home runs list. Henry was named a First-Team All-Big East selection and to the NFCA’s Mideast All-Region Third Team in 2021 after her junior season. She received all-conference recognition for the second time after her graduate season in 2023, earning second-team honors as Villanova captured the Big East regular season title. She also helped lead Villanova to back-to-back Big East Conference championships as well back-to-back NCAA regional appearances. A Ramsey, New Jersey native, Henry graduated from Villanova with a bachelor’s degree in communication specializing in performance studies and a master’s in theatre.

Whitney Shepherd was hired as an assistant coach with the Long Island University softball program in October 2025. She joins LIU after concluding her collegiate playing career at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.  A four-year starter at Reinhardt, Shepherd appeared in 97 games with 52 wins and 20 losses in the circle. She posted a career ERA of 2.00 with 283 strikeouts over 476.1 innings pitched.  Over her career at Reinhardt, Shepherd was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and a two-time First-Team All-AAC selection in 2023 and 2024. Shepherd was also an AAC All-Tournament selection in 2023.  With Shepherd in the circle, Reinhardt won AAC regular season championships in 2023 and 2024, winning the AAC Tournament in the 2024 season. The Eagles also reached the NAIA Softball Opening Rounds in 2021, 2023, and 2024.  Shepherd spent two seasons playing professional softball overseas; one in Germany playing for the Neunkirchen Nightmares from May-September 2024, and a season in Adelaide, Australia from October 2024-April 2025 for the Seacombe Tigers. With the Tigers, Shepherd led the league in ERA and recorded the second-most strikeouts.  She also competed for the SA National U23 team in the Australian National Tournament, where she was the top pitcher that led the team to a runner-up finish for the Australian National Championship. Shepherd pitched in six games, going 2-1 with one save. She totaled 25 innings with an ERA of 1.96, 29 strikeouts, and four walks.  A native of Trion, Georgia, Shepherd graduated from Reinhardt with a bachelor's degree in sports studies with a minor in business in 2023, later earning her master’s degree in sport administration and leadership in 2024.