Conway to Focus All Attention on Softball

By COURTNEY GUENGERICH

After 26 years of coaching both women’s volleyball and softball, Deborah Conway has decided to put her focus solely on the diamond.

Conway had a lot of success with the volleyball program. She is the winningest coach at Mary Washington with over 400 wins. She also has three seasons with 30 plus wins.

Coach Conway knew she wanted to coach at this level since she likes to help with the balance between athletics and academics. Conway always looking for her athletes to excel in the classroom as well as on the court and field.

“Coach Conway is a great motivator,” said Maggie Parrish a freshman volleyball player.

Every year Conway, is given a new challenge with both teams. “Give me a challenge, I’ll meet it head on,” said Conway.

Conway says enjoyed coaching both teams, but after this volleyball season, Conway was faced with a big choice. Ken Tyler the new athletic director really wanted to split up the two sports so they each could get their own attention.

Conway ultimately chose softball. “I like to be outdoors…other than that it was a tough decision,” she said.

She also has a successful record on the softball field, in 2006, she was one win shy of the school record, which is 27 win. She had also been named Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year seven times.

By focusing all her time to softball, Conway said she can now, “Find creative ways to continue motivating and encouraging the student-athletes to be better on the field, in the classroom and in their personal lives.”

Conway has many memories being the head coach of the two programs. With volleyball Conway said she has loved taking her team to the NCAA tournament twice.

With softball, she has loved to watch her pitchers over the years succeed with learning new pitches. Most of all,­­­ Conway has enjoyed, “Getting the opportunity to touch and contribute too many student-athletes.”

She also loves to watch players work hard and see them achieve their goals in their sport and in their personal lives.