Lenoir-Rhyne University Women's Softball

Entering her 27th year as head coach  Owns 1,063 all-time wins and has a career winning percentage of .714 at Lenoir-Rhyne Seven-time South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year Won 12 regular season SAC Championships and 10 SAC Tournament titles Advanced to 17 NCAA Tournaments including three trips to the NCAA Southeast Super Regionals (2010, 2011, and 2024) Advanced to the NCAA Division ll Softball Championship for the first time in LR history (2024) Never had a winning percentage below .500.        Year: Overall, SAC, Postseason         at Lenoir-Rhyne         2025: 38-19, 16-8, NCAA Tournament         2024: 52-18, 16-8, NCAA Tournament, Southeast Regional Title         2023: 38-14, 16-8, NCAA Tournament         2022: 38-16, 18-6, NCAA Tournament         2021: 17-16, 13-11         2020: 20-4, 2-0, N/A         2019: 26-19, 9-10         2018: 45-10, 19-1, NCAA Tournament         2017: 46-13, 16-4, NCAA Tournament         2016: 48-13, 20-2, NCAA Tournament         2015: 32-19, 12-10         2014: 40-15, 16-6, NCAA Tournament         2013: 37-16, 11-7, NCAA Tournament         2012: 48-13, 14-4, NCAA Tournament         2011: 45-10, 16-2, NCAA Tournament Super Regional         2010: 53-9, 15-1, NCAA Tournament Super Regional         2009: 38-13, 11-5, NCAA Tournament         2008: 42-14, 12-2, NCAA Tournament         2007: 48-10, 10-4, NCAA Tournament         2006: 52-12-1, 12-2, NCAA Tournament         2005: 35-16-1, 8-6         2004: 38-16, 10-4         2003: 28-15, 9-3         2002: 41-10, 11-3, NCAA Tournament         2001: 32-21, 6-7         2000: 39-16, 13-3         TOTALS: 1,016-367-2, 299-111, 17 NCAA Tournament appearances         at Newberry         1999: 28-28, 12-2         1998: 17-33, 4-10         TOTALS: 45-61, 16-12         CAREER TOTALS: 1,063-428-2, 315-123, 17 NCAA Tournament appearances Reached nine straight NCAA Tournaments from 2006-2014 Set the program record with 26 straight winning seasons Set the program mark with 53 wins in 2010 The 20 game winning streak in 2017 is the longest in program history Bears have tossed 22 of their 24 all-time no-hitters under Hollar and all three of the program's perfect games Have won 33 NCAA Tournament games under Hollar Since the start of 2009, the Bears have been nationally ranked for 134 weeks, including 30 consecutive weeks from 2010-12. Bears finished the 2024 season ranked No. 4 in the NFCA Poll, their highest in program history. LR's Coaching Staff in 2024 was selected as the ATEC / NFCA Southeast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year 11 players have gone on to be named All-Americans under Hollar's guidance including Sarah Atkins and Kat Rivers earning First Team All-American honors in 2010 and Julia Mardigian in 2024. Hollar has coached 157 players to All-Conference accolades and 83 to All-Region honors In her 26 seasons, Hollar has had nine SAC Pitchers of the Year, nine SAC Tournament MVPs, four SAC Players of the Year and six SAC Freshmen of the Year Hollar has also had four players selected as Academic All-Americans including Talon LaClair who became the program's first First Team Academic All-American in history in 2020 Sarah Kenley was selected as the D2CCA Regional Player of the Year in 2017 Hollar won her 800th game at LR on March 13, 2019 Earned her 1,000th career win against Mars Hill on 3/24/24 Hollar spent two seasons at Newberry before her time at LR Led Newberry to a share of SAC Regular Season title in 1999 Married to husband David and the couple reside in Taylorsville, N.C. Earned undergraduate degree from Wingate in 1996 and master's degree from Morehead State University in 1997.

Brandi Franklin serves as the Head Spirit Team Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a position she has held since 2020, following six years as an assistant coach with the program. A 2013 graduate of LR and four-year member of the cheerleading team, Franklin has been instrumental in building the Bears into a top spirit program. Since taking over the program, Franklin has continued the tradition of excellence, leading the Bears to multiple top finishes at NCA College Nationals, including continued appearances in the finals and national recognition for performance, sportsmanship, and innovation in routine design. She has elevated the program through a focus on technical development, team culture, and student-athlete experience, while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and academic success. Prior to her head coaching role, Franklin served as a volunteer assistant beginning in 2014 before becoming an assistant coach in 2015. She played a key role in LR’s 2019 NCA College National Championship and was pivotal in the program's sustained growth and success. Franklin earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Lenoir-Rhyne in 2013. Her deep ties to LR—as an alumna, former student-athlete, and long-time coach—have fueled her commitment to fostering a championship-caliber spirit program that enhances school pride and supports LR Athletics on campus and in the community.

Emily Kenley enters her third season as the Lenoir-Rhyne softball assistant coach after a standout four-year career in the circle for the bears. As a student-athlete, Kenley was the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year and is a two-time all-conference selection. Kenley was also named to the D2CCA first team all-region squad in 2018. During that season, Kenley went 24-5 and posted a 1.81 era in 193.2 innings pitched. The southpaw struck out 125 batters and allowed opponents to hit just .245.  For her career, Kenley went 40-16 in 85 career appearances (74 starts) and threw 382.2 innings. she struck out 258 batters in her career and had 34 complete games and seven shuouts to go along with four career saves.  Kenley was a three-time SAC commissioner’s honor roll selection. 

 Becky Bernardi enters her second season with the Lenoir-Rhyne Spirit Team after previously serving as a volunteer dance coach with the program. A graduate of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, Becky earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2008. While at ISU, she was a member of the competitive dance team and competed at the national level through NDA in Daytona, FL. Following graduation, she returned to her Alma mater, Morris Community High School, where she taught English and served as head coach of the competitive dance team for 11 years. During her tenure, the program achieved multiple state championships, garnered consistent statewide recognition, and advanced to the UDA Nationals finals in Orlando, FL, marking a first in school history. She currently teaches English at Hickory High School and is eager to contribute to the continued excellence and tradition of the LR Spirit Team.