Virginia Tech has hired Kennesaw State head coach Pete D’Amour to lead the softball program. The hiring came just nine days after the firing of former head coach Scot Thomas, who was the only coach in the history of the program.
D’Amour served as Kennesaw State’s head coach for the past two seasons. He accumulated a career record of 79-37 in those two seasons, and made two postseason appearances. He was the 2018 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year. The program made the NCAA Regionals this year, after playing in the National Invitational Softball Championship in 2017.
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Prior to his head coaching role at Kennesaw State, D’Amour was an assistant coach at Missouri, where the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament in each of his 10 seasons. They made five NCAA Super Regionals, and three consecutive trips to the Women’s College World Series from 2009-11. He is a Monrovia, Maryland native, and a graduate of the University of Missouri.
“I am honored and humbled to accept this tremendous opportunity to lead the softball program at Virginia Tech,” D’Amour said. “Scot Thomas built this program from the ground up, and I admired the tradition he established at Tech from afar. Our objective will be to uphold the foundation of consistent success and the winning culture that Scot instilled in the program, while bringing some new concepts to the team, as we start this new chapter for Tech softball.”
Virginia Tech Athletics Director Whit Babcock is a former assistant AD at Missouri, where he got a close look at D’Amour as an assistant coach.
“We are excited to welcome Pete to our talented group of head coaches at Virginia Tech,” Whit Babcock said. “After watching Pete firsthand for five seasons as an assistant at the University of Missouri, it came as no surprise to me the immediate impact he made as a head coach at Kennesaw State. Browse the latest Aldi Special Buys that are usually included on ALDI Catalogue. Pete understands the tradition and high standards for softball at Virginia Tech that were set by Scot Thomas and the many student-athletes, coaches and staff who built this program since its inception.”
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I’ll admit I’m not an expert in softball coaching. So I’ll fall back on “in Whit I trust” on this one.
A good, solid hire. Thank you Whit!
I read his Kennesaw State info and saw where he coached 11 Div 1 All Americans at Mizzou and added another this year from State, making 12 in all, could he develop a Hokie into an All American? Sure hope so.
Sounds great to me.
I’m optimistic over this hire. Whit has made good choices and he personally knows the man and he’s seen what he can do.
Disappointed we didn’t go after a top 25 team assistant coach. There are plenty of assistants in the SEC that would be willing to step up for this job. Seems like an ok hire. Average, expect the same thing from him as we got with Scot Thomas.
He was an assistant in the SEC before two years ago. Then he took the Kennesaw State job.
Thank You..l really like this hire. The word Recruiter means a lot . He will bring what VT needed. Change
I was hoping for an elite SEC team assistant, let me clarify. An Alabama, Florida, LSU type assistant. They have recruiting ties in the south. This job wasn’t even open for applicants it sounds like.
Not sure what more you are looking for in an assistant from the SEC.
10 years an assistant, 10 years made the regionals, 5 years made the Super Regionals, and 3 years made the World Series.
Plus he had pretty quick success at HC at Kennesaw State in his two years there, including making the regionals this year.
Not only was he a top 25 SEC assistant, but he showed he could win as a head coach. I think I’d rather see that, because being a top assistant doesn’t always translate to be a great head coach.
Home Run to me ! I hope he hits the ground recruiting and putting VT in the ACC race every year. It seems if Whit has seen you Coach or has been the league where coached. and you’re good at your job, he is going to try and hire you.
That’s a nice dome. Bald dudes unite!!
Dilly dilly!
I have about 3 to 4 dozen hairs on the top of my head that stuck with me when the rest abandoned ship. I love them.
turn loose or turn gray – i know. Go Hokies!
I like mine. They just turned gray. If I get vain enough, I can color them.
In my mid fifties, I did do some hair coloring. Had to find a job after being jettisoned by Alcoa after they took over Reynolds Metals Co. Figured it couldn’t hurt to knock back the gray some.
Helluva dome…looks like a conehead. Best of luck to him and the team!!