For the last several years, Penn softball has perennially been at the bottom of the University's standings. Since the varsity program was established in 1974, the Quakers have had only seven winning seasons, and none since 1982.
After six largely unsuccessful seasons, Penn replaced coach Carol Kashow, who went 77-165-2 during her Penn career, with Leslie King Moore, who is embarking on only her second year as a head coach.
King Moore, the third head coach in Penn softball history, elevated the George Washington softball program to varsity status last year, after serving as the assistant coach at Lock Haven University.
Last year's Penn team went 10-31-1, and 3-11 in the Ivy League, but King Moore is looking to turn that around in a hurry.
Her primary goal for the season is to establish a significantly different attitude on and off the field and "build a foundation" for the program.
"They haven't had fun," King Moore said.
"I want them to be proud," she added.
By teaching the Quakers how to act like winners, King Moore believes she can significantly improve her team's record. Seven of the Quakers' 31 losses last season were by one run, which is an area that King Moore singled out to work on.
However, she realizes that mental preparation and the right attitude alone cannot turn a program around. The recent cold spell in Philadelphia has kept the Quakers indoors, but they have used their time to practice hitting, something the Quakers need to drastically improve. The Red and Blue hit just .211 last season, while allowing opponents to bat .270.
"We've worked very very hard and done all the right things to prepare," King Moore said.
The pitching staff also trained hard, looking to improve upon last year's 3.15 combined ERA.
King Moore will need help from her two captains, senior pitcher Nicki Borgstadt and junior outfielder Kimberly Lˆ. But the very talented freshmen will also be expected to contribute, with four or five members of the 12-person class slotted to be in the starting lineup.
King Moore hopes that thefreshmen can learn from the upperclassmen.
"The freshman class is extremely talented, but they don't know what it's all about yet," she said.
King Moore decided to leave the nation's capital to be closer to her family in Pennsylvania, and jumped at the opportunity to lead a program at such a prestigious school.
Coaching in some capacity ever since she was an undergraduate at Cal State-Fullerton, King Moore is looking to draw on her experience at George Washington to basically start the Penn softball program anew.
"My job is to teach these guys to find ways to win," she said.
Competing in the very balanced Ivy League -- no team finished more than two games behind the team directly in front of it last year -- the Quakers have a real shot to compete for their second Ivy League title in school history, and their first since 1981.
"I think the winning will come, because the talent is there," King Moore said. She wants to change the culture of losing on campus and to "have an experience that's beneficial to [the team] as people and athletes."
