When JD McCurdy decided to move from the high school coaching ranks up to college, that was the headline from the July 1, 2003, issue of the Daily News-Record. But McCurdy, who had already found immense success at Turner Ashby as its softball coach, was ready to take that next step.

“It was the challenge,” McCurdy explained. “We (TA) were dominating everything and I just wanted a new challenge. I always wanted to coach at the college level, and there weren’t many of those available in Virginia and I didn’t want to move. So EMU was the opportunity.”

And meet that challenge he has.

Now, 400+ wins, three ODAC Coach of the Year honors, one NCAA Tournament appearance, three EMU Hall of Honor inductees, and countless All-ODAC award winners later, McCurdy is ready for another challenge…one that he’s never quite faced before: retirement. McCurdy has announced that the 2026 season, his 23rd at EMU, will be his last.

“It is time,” he explained. “I’ve had other coaches tell me, ‘You will know when it’s time,’ and I knew last year it was time for me to make a move and it’s time to give the game up and move on and do something else. I appreciate and am grateful for the opportunity that I got here, and I’m very humbled with what happened. We did really well, but I knew it was time to move on and I feel really good with that.”

When McCurdy applied for the position at EMU, he immediately became an attractive candidate to then-Director of Athletics, Larry R. Martin, because of his track record as a head coach and his knowledge of the softball scene in the Shenandoah Valley.

“I hired him because of his success at the high school level,” Martin said. “And because of him knowing the area players for recruiting, because that’s where most of our people got recruited from, was locally.”

One of those aforementioned local players was Mariah Foltz ’17. Foltz was a standout for the Broadway High School Gobblers softball team and made the decision to come play for McCurdy after her graduation in 2013. She also came back as an assistant coach with the Royals for the 2024 season. She explained that it was his drive to win that drew her to EMU.

“I’ve always loved the way Coach McCurdy governs a team,” Foltz said. “He coaches with authority and wants to win. I chose EMU because I wanted to continue to be a disciplined athlete, held to a high standard, and pushed to succeed. I’m grateful to JD for pushing me to be stronger, resilient, and more accountable.”

McCurdy’s first season was in 2004 and, in just his first season, more than doubled the Royals’ win total from the previous year. The number of wins continued to climb each year until, in 2007 and 2008, McCurdy’s stamp on the team was starting to be seen. In 2007, the Royals went 25-14, 10-8 in the ODAC, and McCurdy was named the ODAC Co-Coach of the Year with Randolph Macon’s Kevin Proffitt. He followed that up in 2008 with a record of 30-13, 13-5 in the ODAC, before falling in the ODAC semifinals.

Over the next two years, EMU had sub-.500 records in conference play, but made it to back-to-back ODAC Championship series. They fell to Lynchburg in 2009 but made it to the mountaintop in 2010, when they knocked off Virginia Wesleyan 5-1 to win EMU’s second ODAC softball championship, their first since 1990, and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. McCurdy was rewarded for that season, as he was named, once again, the ODAC Coach of the Year.    

“JD had a knack for always having his team ready for the playoffs, regardless of what the regular season was,” said former Director of Athletics Dave King. “I didn’t hear this necessarily, but it was sort of conveyed to me several ways that nobody really wanted to draw EMU in the first round of the ODAC tournament, and that one of his championships comes from having ranked eighth and come all the way through to the championship. And I never could figure out what it was about his coaching that did that. Again, I wasn’t there at every practice and all that, but he had a knack. His teams played well in the ODAC tournament, and to me that says something.”

Despite winning an ODAC championship, and not having another losing season until 2019, McCurdy explained that in his 23 years at the helm, he’s had to adapt his coaching style to meet the needs of his players over the years.

“I felt like I could adjust to any situation with that,” he said. “But kids 10 years ago were different than they are now, obviously. And I always felt that I could find a way, a button, that motivated them in some way. And even early on, I was hard. I was really a hard coach early on. I pushed my players, I pushed those kids, but whatever happened within the team, I never let that bother the focus of what we wanted to do for the team and as a team.”

Aislinn Bowen ’16 said it was that pushing and the drive that made McCurdy the successful coach that he was.

“JD succeeds because he is consistent, detail-driven, and genuinely invested in his players,” she said. “He prepares harder than anyone, whether it is breaking down film, adjusting game strategies, or finding the right way to motivate his athletes. But what really sets him apart is his ability to build relationships. He doesn’t just coach players; he develops people. When you are playing for someone who truly invests in you, you naturally want to give everything you have. That culture of commitment and accountability is why his teams win.”

While his teams haven’t seen quite the same success in recent years as at the start of his career, his drive to develop players, and people, has never wavered.

“Coach McCurdy has been a consistent support in my life since an early age,” said Grace Fravel ’25. “He was committed to getting me to EMU, and I felt confident in my decision because I knew that he truly cared, not only about my athletic career, but also my academic journey and personal well-being. Not only was he a coach of mine, but he is also someone I knew I could always count on to help me navigate challenging times throughout my four years at EMU. His love for the game and his players is well-known on and off the field. I feel extremely grateful to have had him as my coach, and I know that he has impacted many ladies’ lives far beyond just my own.”

But now, the time has come. After the season comes to an end, whenever that may be, McCurdy isn’t planning on just riding off into the sunset…that’s not who he is. He’s just planning on looking for that next challenge, even if it’s not on the softball field.

“I’m not quite sure what that next challenge is, but I can guarantee it’ll be something,” McCurdy explained. “I’m definitely going to be involved with my grandkids and their baseball. I’ll spend time with my wife and do some traveling. But outside of that, it’s up in the air.”

And while he may not be at EMU anymore after this season, the impact he’s made will continue to be felt long after a new coach is hired.

“JD’s impact on EMU Softball is significant and lasting,” said Carrie S. Bert ’97, EMU’s Director of Athletics. “Over the course of his career, he elevated the program, highlighted by an ODAC championship and more than 400 career wins. These milestones reflect both longevity and competitive excellence. He has been widely respected by local coaches, colleagues across the ODAC, and peers from all levels of the game for his knowledge, competitiveness, and long-standing commitment to softball. JD invested deeply in the sport and in this institution, and his commitment to recruiting and developing local student-athletes strengthened our connection to the surrounding community. We are grateful for the many years he dedicated to EMU and for the role he played in advancing our softball program during his tenure. JD has certainly earned a well-deserved retirement and we wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

EMU will conduct a national search for McCurdy’s replacement, beginning later this month. Interested candidates may visit emu.edu/careers-at-emu for more information once the position is posted.  

As temperatures climb back into the 70s, word has spread about the six new pickleball courts on EMU’s campus. Athletic Director Carrie S Bert said she receives frequent texts and emails from appreciative pickleball players impressed with the courts, as well as photos of the courts when they’re full.

The new pickleball courts, located along Park Road north of the basketball courts, are joined by four freshly resurfaced tennis courts. Work on the outdoor space started in mid-October and finished in December, with nets installed over the winter break. Edwards Paving, a certified installer from Port Republic, completed the project. In addition to the resurfacing, the lights shining down on the courts after dusk have been replaced with brighter bulbs. A stack of court dividers is stored in a newly built shed next to the space. 

This weekend, the new pickleball courts will host their inaugural tournament, , to raise funds for the EMU Pickleball Club, a group of faculty, staff, and mostly students that plays on the courts twice a week. Men’s and women’s doubles matches will be held on Saturday, April 5, with mixed doubles matches on Sunday, April 6.

The courts have been an instant hit. Mike Weaver ’90, a member of the local pickleball enthusiasts group, said he’s enjoyed playing on the new courts. “It’s fantastic,” he said. “The surface is great, the nets are great, and the lights are a game changer. There’s no other place close by with lights, except for a couple indoor courts.”

Lexi Brown, associate director of athletic admissions, said she’s been regularly playing at the EMU courts with her circle of friends. “It gets crazy busy now, which is awesome to see,” she said. 

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, EMU seniors Mary Kate Bomberger and Caleb Chupp took advantage of the warm weather to play on the courts. “I love them,” Bomberger said. “I come here to play all the time.”

Bert said the goal of the resurfacing project is to reinforce EMU’s commitment to student resources and community engagement. “I often see our students using the courts,” she said. The enhancements also make EMU more attractive to prospective students, helping to boost enrollment and recruitment efforts.

Code of the court

For the past four or five years, pickleball has been called the fastest-growing sport in the nation. It’s especially popular among older players due to its lower impact, making it easier on the joints, and its ease of learning and play.

A sign on the fence around the courts outlines the rules and policies for using the space. The courts are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. On Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., the courts are designated for priority use by those 55 years and older. The student-run EMU Pickleball Club reserves the courts on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Community members are welcome to play with them if the courts aren’t too full.

The order of priority for court use is:

1. EMU classes, practices, tournaments, student and other programming (clubs and intramurals)
2. Rentals
3. Community open play

‘The universe aligned’

As a student at Eastern Mennonite School in the ‘90s, Obed “Obie” Diener remembers how new the EMU tennis courts looked and felt back then. He left the area after high school to study at Goshen College. When he returned three years ago, he saw that the courts “hadn’t been maintained very much.” “There were huge cracks that were big enough to sprain an ankle,” he said.

Diener, the son of alumni Eugene ’68 and Gloria ’76, met with Bert about a year ago to see whether anything could be done to restore the courts to their former glory. At the same time, Paul Leaman ’86, head of Eastern Mennonite School, had been in talks with the athletic director about resurfacing the courts.

For the past decade or so, EMS’ tennis teams practiced and competed on the EMU courts. But, with the condition of the asphalt deteriorating to the point where they were no longer safe for competitive high school play, Leaman said, the school had to look elsewhere. For the past couple years, EMS rented tennis courts from Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation. Those rental costs became unsustainable, and Leaman sought a way to partner with EMU to get its courts resurfaced.

Funding for the project came from EMS, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, grants from the U.S. Tennis Association, an EMU fund designated for tennis, and other organizations and private donors. Leaman led a fundraising campaign for the project, calling on families who had played tennis at EMS over the years, and raised the amount they needed within a month. “People saw the need and they jumped in quickly to make that happen,” he said. “I want to thank all the people who gave what they could to make this possible.”

Seed donors, led by generous supporters and avid pickleball players Dale Metzler and Barbra Graber Metzler ’76, sparked the idea for pickleball courts at EMU and contributed money to make it a reality. The retired couple discovered the sport within the past five years and wanted to introduce it to younger generations, said Graber Metzler, a member of the EMU theater faculty from 1981-2005. “Pickleball has become the spice of our lives, and when you get excited about something, you want to share it with others,” she said. “What I love about it is that it’s not about any of the things that divide us. It’s simply about getting on a court with other people and having a good time.”

“The universe aligned in terms of interested groups within the community and the willingness of EMU administration to partner with them,” Bert said. “This was a highly collaborative project, both in its design and use policies, as well as in how the financial needs were met.”

What’s next

The pickleball and tennis courts offer future teaching opportunities such as youth clinics and instruction for beginner players. Bert said that additional funding will be used to purchase benches for the tennis and pickleball courts. Windscreens—featuring the EMU, EMS and VMRC logos—will be added to the fencing around the space.

A future phase of the court enhancement project will resurface and transform the basketball court area into two basketball courts and a futsal court. Leaman said he would love to see the city step forward in partnering for this next step of the project. “The city was supportive of this project, philosophically, and it just didn’t work in their budget cycle,” he said. “They’re friends of the university, and I think they’re interested in seeing the current basketball courts get developed.”

A pickleball tournament at the EMU courts on Saturday, May 24, will raise funds for future improvements to the courts. For more information about the tournament, contact Eric Benson at 540-560-4883. For information about the local pickleball community, contact Mike Weaver at pbhburg@gmail.com.

Those interested in supporting the outdoor court enhancement project can email Bert at: carrie.bert@emu.edu