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.  

A pioneering coach, co-athletic director, and professor at EMU in the 1960s and ’70s—and the youngest daughter of John R. Mumaw, EMU’s fourth president from 1948-65—Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 5, 2025.

During her tenure at EMU (then known as Eastern Mennonite College or EMC), Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s basketball (1966-75), women’s volleyball (1968-79), and field hockey (1970) teams. She achieved the most success with the volleyball team, winning a state championship over James Madison University in 1973 and posting a perfect 21-0 season in 1976. Her overall record with the squad stands at 151-99. Mumaw was inducted into the in 2002. Only three other coaches share that distinction.

Those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with Mumaw, either on EMU’s campus or at Washington Community Fellowship (WCF), describe her as a people person who greeted everyone she met with warmth. They speak highly of her meticulous attention to detail, which shone brightly in her volunteer service to WCF and in her career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices, where she worked for more than 40 years. They also remember her for her love of baseball, particularly the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, and her generosity in sharing her season tickets with others.

Mumaw was a beloved mentor, leader, and friend, known by many for her deep commitment to EMU and her congregation.

“She was a titan, a fierce advocate for women in athletics and for EMU in general,” said Carrie S Bert, the first woman to serve as EMU athletics director.

Dave King ’76, EMU’s athletics director for 17 years before Bert, agreed. 

“Mim advocated for the expansion of women’s sports at a time when that wasn’t supported by many in the institution, including her father who had been president of the college,” said King. 

During one of her visits to the EMU Athletics Suite, Bert recalled, Mumaw had shared with her how her father, likely reflecting the feelings of the wider church, had opposed the growth in women’s physical activities at EMU. “Mim just laughed and said, ‘Well, that wasn’t going to stop me … we just had to agree not to talk about it,’” shared Bert. 

“Mim was always so encouraging of me, both in words of affirmation and in the wonderful way she would squeeze my hand while we chatted,” Bert said. “I could feel her positivity and enduring support in those moments.”

King told the that he first met Mumaw when he arrived as a student in 1972, but “had no idea of the trailblazer she was and the impact she had on women’s sports” until he returned as director of athletics in 2005. “Besides coaching women’s sports and teaching PE classes, her involvement with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) exposed EMC athletics to the broader collegiate athletic community and elevated the EMC sports programs,” King said.

Growing up in a glass bowl

Mumaw was born on Jan. 14, 1938, in Harrisonburg, the youngest of five daughters, to John R. and Esther Mosemann Mumaw. She was 10 years old when her father, a professor and ordained minister, took office as president, succeeding John L. Stauffer. He would serve in that role for the next 17 years.

“That was an important part of her growing up,” said Byron Peachey, a nephew of Mumaw and longtime EMU staff member. “She lived down the road on College Avenue and EMC was an even smaller community than it is now. Everybody knew everybody else’s business. And so for her and her four older sisters, there was a spotlight on them and a set of higher expectations for what they did and how they conducted themselves.”

Mumaw graduated from EMU in 1961 with a degree in business education. She then taught business education classes at Iowa Mennonite School for four years.

“That would’ve been an opportunity for her to spread her wings, outside of this glass bowl at EMU where everybody knew her,” Peachey said.

In 1964, while Mumaw was in Iowa, her mother died “very suddenly,” Peachey said. She returned to Harrisonburg to care for her father (in 1965, he married Evelyn King, former dean of women for EMU, and resigned as president).

Hired by EMU’s fifth president (1965-80) Myron S. Augsburger, Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s intercollegiate athletic teams, including women’s basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. 

“That was groundbreaking for EMC,” Peachey said. “She was a real innovator. ‘Trailblazer’ is an overused word, but she truly was one.”

In 1968, after completing her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, Mumaw began teaching accounting and physical education courses at EMU. She also served as co-athletic director and co-chair of the physical education department.

Sandy Brownscombe, coach of EMU women’s basketball (1978-89), field hockey (1978-93), and men’s volleyball (1991-98) also in the Hall of Honor, said that Mumaw held significant roles at the state, regional, and national levels within the AIAW, which governed women’s college athletics before the NCAA took over in the 1980s.

“Mim was a foundational figure for women’s athletics in Virginia through the AIAW,” Brownscombe said. “She started volleyball in the state of Virginia.”

A life of balance

Brownscombe was finishing her master’s degree coursework at Washington State University in 1978 when she was hired to teach physical education classes and coach the field hockey and women’s basketball teams at EMU. Mumaw interviewed her for the job, and was tasked with finding a place for her to live.

“There weren’t any apartments available,” said Brownscombe, “and so that’s how I ended up sharing her house with her that first year I was here.”

“That was, in my opinion, probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” she added, “because we spent many nights talking with each other, and she would explain to me what it meant to be a Mennonite female athlete. At that point, I was the first non-Mennonite full-time faculty member at EMU, so it really was my introduction to Mennonites and to EMC, and she shared that whole faith experience with me. She was like a big sister to me.”

Less than a full year later, in 1979, Mumaw left for a sabbatical year in D.C. at The Fellowship Foundation. It led to her permanent move to the area.

“She felt like she had taken EMU athletics to the next stage,” Brownscombe said.

“EMU women’s sports experienced much success in the 1980s, which I believe was a direct result of Mim’s commitment to developing and expanding sports activities for women,” said King.

Mumaw was a founding member of , a Christ-centered faith community started by President Emeritus Augsburger (its first pastor) and his wife, Esther, in 1981 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Mumaw was an active member of WCF for 43 years and served in many roles, including as presiding deacon, elder, and on the Finance, Human Resources, and Building committees.

“Any time students from WCF were attending EMU, Mim always made sure I knew about it,” said Tim Swartzendruber, senior regional advancement director for EMU. “She was an admissions ambassador for us, no question.”

In 1982, Mumaw began a long career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices in Tyson’s Corner, where she served as accountant, office manager, and assistant to senior partner. She worked at the firm for more than 40 years.

She often returned to EMU and continued to love and support the university. She served on the EMU Board of Trustees from 1988-96.

“When I think of Mim, I think of balance,” Brownscombe said. “Her whole life was balanced. She was great as a coach, administrator, teacher, and yet she was so involved in the church, in leadership there, and in her care for people. She was one of those well-rounded people who had it all together.”

“She was always positive, always optimistic,” shared Peachey. “She wanted sports to be fun for young women and for it to be a team experience. I think that was an important value she cultivated, that student-athletes experience team success rather than individual excellence.”

Clockwise from front center: Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, Liz Chase Driver ’86, David Driver ’85, former Orioles player Larry Sheets ’83, and Stephanie Rheinheimer ’13 attend an Orioles baseball game in August 2022. Sheets told writer David Driver for the Augusta Free Press: “Mim was, first and foremost, a wonderful Christian woman, a huge fan of EMU, and a huge supporter of my career and then my son’s (Gavin Sheets’) career.” (Photo courtesy of David Driver/AFP)

A connector of people

A devoted fan of the Orioles and Nationals, Mumaw was known to invite family, friends, and anyone else within her orbit to baseball games. While there, she recorded the action with a pencil and paper scorecard. “It was in her DNA to keep track of details,” Peachey said.

As a student, David Driver ’85, former Weather Vane sports editor, narrowly missed the window when Mumaw was on campus. But he and his family became acquainted with her as longtime members of WCF beginning in the late 1980s.

“She was never one to talk about the role she played as a pioneer for women’s athletics at EMU, but her love of sports was contagious,” said Driver. “I’m happy to say she made WCF a church with a lot of baseball fans.”

“I know that Carrie Bert benefited greatly from having Mim as a mentor,” Driver added. “Without Mim, there may not have been a Carrie as the first woman to serve as EMU athletics director.”

Long after leaving EMU, Mumaw continued to invest in its mission and its students. According to Swartzendruber, Mumaw included EMU in her estate plans, directing support to two funds established by her parents: the Esther Mosemann Mumaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which benefits upperclasswomen of any major, and the John R. Mumaw Endowed Scholarship, which benefits teacher education students.

In 2018, Mumaw coordinated a fundraising effort among past and present members of WCF to increase the ongoing student impact of the Myron S. and Esther K. Augsburger Endowed Scholarship for Urban Ministry. The scholarship, valued at more than $400,000, benefits students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary who plan to serve in an urban setting. 

“Mim tried her hardest to attend every alumni gathering, homecoming, you name it,” Swartzendruber said. “She adored EMU. I always got the impression that EMU felt like home to her.”

In addition to her parents, Mumaw was preceded in death by her four sisters: Helen Peachey, Grace Mumaw, Catherine Mumaw, and Lois Martin. She is survived by six nieces and nephews, and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. 

“She was a single woman, never had children, never married, and so she created a community around her,” Peachey said. “She knew lots of people in lots of different walks of life. When she went to baseball games, people noticed how all the attendants knew her. She knew them all by name. She was always looking for ways to connect people together.”

Thanks to Simone Horst, special collections librarian, for providing the archival images of Mumaw included in this story.

This spring, EMU Athletics has been celebrating alumni-athletes working in the health care professions.

“It has been so exciting to reconnect with former Royals  for this special social media campaign highlighting the outstanding work being done in the health care field,” said Director of Athletics Dave King. “And it has been very rewarding to hear the ways in which athletics prepared and shaped them for their current work.  I hope you are as inspired as I was in reading their responses.”

To view the entire series, visit the .

To join the series, send us a note in the comment box below and we’ll get in touch with you!

Below are a few of the more than 25 alumni-athletes. Scroll down to view a complete list (as of 3/24/2021). Thanks to James DeBoer, director of athletics communication for his work on this project.

Martin Pou ’20, Volleyball

Now: Assistant to the practice manager, Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology

Lesson: Clear and quick communication is crucial both on the court and in the medical field.

Julie Kratz McElwee ’85, BNS ’86, Field Hockey

Now: Emergency department chair, Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery, Christiansburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of relationships and knowing who is behind you, to give support, when things are not going well.

Tyler Denlinger ’18, Cross Country/ Track & Field

Now: Vaccines process development engineer, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.

Lesson: I have found the lesson of “enjoy what you do” to hold a lasting effect from my time at EMU. There are few things in my life I hold more dearly than my experience with the EMU track and field squad. I love running and T&F, and that love enabled my teammates and I to collectively accomplish a lot of really difficult tasks…I found that my love of the sport and my desire to achieve goals  were useful in propelling me to accomplish unpleasant tasks such as lifting after a hard workout. This directly applies to my work setting—while I do not love every  aspect of my job, my passion for the end goal makes the unpleasant aspects more bearable.

Rachel Sturm ’18, Soccer/Track & Field

Now: Registered nurse, UVA Medical ICU/Special Pathogen ICU, Charlottesville, Va.

Lesson: I learned that I needed to stop worrying about society’s standards of success and focus on what God’s successes were for me. At the time there was so much pressure on my shoulders to be a successful athlete and a successful student. It’s hard to succeed in both, as one usually has to take over the other. In my case I had to choose my career to become a nurse. Yet, I never stopped giving it my all in academics and sports, which created a lot of frustration when I failed in my sport. Now I look back and realize, God gave me the talent to play college sports to introduce me to the people he wanted in my life. To give me the experiences I needed to grow into the woman and leader I am now. To let me learn failure and to strive from it. All these little things are God’s achievements for me.

Brooke Hensley ‘14, Softball

Now: Emergency department team coordinator, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of playing together as a team to be successful because you cannot do it all on your own. Throughout my career, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been vital to work as a team in providing patient care in order to promote positive outcomes and save lives.

Laura Rosenberger ‘03, Track & Field

Now: Surgeon, associate professor of surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lesson: EMU Athletics taught me how to be resilient during adversity and perseverance. Thankful for dedicated coaches and supportive teammates. Feels so pertinent to life right now in a pandemic!

Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ‘16, Basketball

Now: Registered Nurse, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.

Lesson: I learned many lessons from the basketball court but one that sticks out from Coach Griff is that you are the driver to your own success –  no one else can determine how successful you are going to be in life or in sports. You get out what you put in.

Katie Lehman Maust ‘09, Soccer

Now: Emergency department RN, Sentara RMH / Paramedic and training lieutenant, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: As an athlete, I was so thankful to be surrounded by people who were courageous, tenacious, hardworking, and supportive. Being part of a healthcare team has a lot of similarities to being on an athletics team and I aspire to carry those traits of great team members into my roles in the healthcare system.

Thanks to ALL of our Royals athletes working to make this world a safer place!

From left: Brent Yoder ’12, soccer, physical therapist and co-owner of Yoder Physical Therapy and Wellness in Sarasota, Fla.

Emily Augsburger ’18, field hockey, CCU Registered Nurse, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jackson Maust ’09, soccer, physical therapist at Augusta Health, working in outpatient therapy and in acute care in the hospital, including with COVID patients; also a captain and life member of Harrisonburg Rescue Squad (Jackson is married to Katie, featured above).

Jamey Groff ’98, volleyball, oncology pharmacist, Hahn Cancer Center, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Jessica Blanks Jaindl ’13, field hockey, registered nurse at Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

From left: Juni Schirch Sauder ’16, cross country/track and field, athletics testing coordinator, EMU.

Laura Rittenhouse ’20, soccer, registered nurse, cardiac care, UVa Hospital.

Laurie Serrell ’19, cross country/track and field, registered nurse with Spanish interpreters training, Sentara RMH.

Leah Lapp ’20, triathlon, associate chemist, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.; attending Liberty University School of Osteopathic Medicine, fall 2021.

Linda Cimini Boesch ’11, field hockey/track and field, critical care RN, St. Luke’s University Health System, Chalfont, Pa.

Lisa King Burkholder ’08, RN, Sentara RMH and instructor of nursing, EMU, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Foltz ’17, softball, RN, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Martin ’17, field hockey, labor and deliver nurse, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Nolan Prock ’12, volleyball, veterinarian, Healthy Pets Veterinary Care, Boca Raton, Fla.

R.J. Ocampo ’19, volleyball, EMT with Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach, Va.

Rodney Eshleman ’88, soccer, ICU nurse, Augusta Health, Fishersville, Va.

Sylvia Mast ’19, soccer, ED technician, Sentara RMH and EMT, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

As students and faculty wrapped up final exams last week, the ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř community reflects on the achievement of a major milestone: completing a large portion of the fall semester on campus without a major outbreak in the middle of a pandemic. 

“I am so very proud of our resilient, faithful EMU community,” said President Susan Schultz Huxman. “Our students, faculty and staff all worked courageously, imaginatively and generously this semester so that we could continue to fulfill our educational mission and learn together. This collective, community efforts says so much about who we are: We do indeed ‘Lead Together.’”

EMU held its traditional holiday celebrations early to both celebrate and share gratitude with students before they vacated campus Nov. 25 for the Thanksgiving holiday and winter break. Students finished one week of online classes and reading days before final exams. 

The semester’s culmination in an online format, along with other minor changes to the fall semester academic calendar, was part of plans announced in August in anticipation of the predicted late fall surge in COVID-19.

Sacrifices made for low numbers

EMU’s COVID numbers were low throughout the semester. For the weeks when students were present on campus, the university recorded 12 cases. From Aug. 1 to the date of publication, the university community had 20 total cases. [See data at EMU’s .]

Exit COVID testing, offered to students before they left, was also an indicator of community health, successful monitoring and mitigation. Of the 94 tests conducted among students, faculty and staff, all were negative.

“Our students took the COVID Commitments seriously and were attentive to following recommended health practices,” said Dean of Students Shannon Dycus. “None of this was easy or light. EMU students made true sacrifices in areas like recreation and relationships for the collective health of our community.”

The university initially delayed the start of the fall semester in August because of four positive tests among student leaders on campus for pre-semester training. This decision proved to be beneficial, allowing administrators and staff to make adjustments to plans in place.

The move-in two weeks later and subsequent in-person classes continued smoothly and without major interruption through the rest of the semester. Read about how EMU faculty took on the challenge of hybrid classes.

All of the fall athletics teams, which will compete during the spring semester according to Old Dominion Athletic Conference plans, were able to continue skills training and conditioning, following strict masking and social distancing protocols, according to Director of Athletics Dave King. 

“I am very proud of the student-athletes and their cooperation with the safety protocols in place during practices this fall,” King said. “This gives me hope for the spring when we will need to be extra vigilant in our safety efforts.”

The teams concluded the semester with inter-team scrimmages. Spring semester will see all of EMU’s teams back in action. [Director of Athletics Dave King hosted his last week to share updates.]

Successful strategies

EMU Health Services director Irene Kniss points to testing and identification of positive cases and aggressive quarantine and isolation measures as solid strategies to keep the case load down.

Additionally, EMU had its own COVID hotline to facilitate efficient and effective response and conducted its own contact tracing. Each member of the campus community was required to fill out a daily symptoms tracker and data was monitored by a COVID Response Team, led by Beth Good. The director of EMU’s cross-cultural programs, Good holds a doctorate in nursing and has years of experience in public health.

“These strategies will continue in the spring semester,” Kniss said.

The COVID Response team, which will continue in the spring semester, included 13 employees who took on the care for students in quarantine and isolation. They managed meal delivery, transportation, contact tracing and other health and well-being needs. 

Besides physical care, the EMU community also mobilized around providing ways for students to combat isolation, loneliness and anxiety – all common mental health issues but on the rise especially now. These efforts from Student Life, Residence Life and Health Services, will also continue in the spring, Dycus said, “from quaranteams to spring ‘pause days,’ various activities planned by Campus Activities Council, and different student-led worship opportunities.”

Collaborative effort

EMU’s COVID strategy has been managed by a collaborative team on the Crisis Management Preparedness Team, chaired by Vice President of Finance Tim Stutzman, and by the president and her Executive Leadership Team.

These groups as well as subcommittees logged a huge number of hours during the summer and the semester, meeting sometimes daily to address issues. Much of the protocols and processes, developed in accordance with and by requirement of the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia, aided in a strong infrastructure related to public health, student life, athletics and academic plans for a safe return in the fall. These plans are currently being updated for spring semester.

“One of our successes has been the inclusion of a lot of people in their areas of expertise around campus,” Stutzman said. “That includes students, who helped us considerably in the summer with their representation on campus committees and who have shown exemplary leadership, from the Student Government Association to our student leaders in Student Life, and in various clubs and organizations.”

Stutzman and Dycus also noted strong partnerships with city officials, Virginia Department of Health staff, and other local partners. EMU played a role in two local public health campaigns  calling on the community and university students to prioritize public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Communication was a priority from the beginning of the summer. A was launched in March 2020 and updated almost daily. From August to December, the university sent approximately 75 communications. Campus signage related to COVID was a major endeavor.

Looking ahead to spring

When students return in mid-January, many of the campus routines set in fall will continue. There will be some major changes related to testing, driven in part by the availability of testing resources. Additionally, all the athletics teams will be competing, with NCAA protocols for increased testing, as well. 

“The takeaways from this semester are substantial,” said Dycus. “We’ve learned communication practices that keep the EMU community informed. We formed habits in the protocols that keep us healthy and are attentive to the needs of mental health and resilience that will help us maintain wellness. We benefited from our collective commitment this Fall and we are working hard to facilitate the same for our Spring return.” 

The spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 18. That day, the university hosts its annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Most events will be virtual. 

“We learned a great deal in the fall semester during what was an intense and serious learning curve,” Stutzman. “We know next semester will present its own unique challenges but the successful completion of fall gives us confidence that we are on the right track with our protocols and procedures, and that all of us, students, faculty and staff, are invested and committed.”

More Reading

• Check out the 2019-20 President’s Annual Report, which includes a timeline of the year, as well as a summary of adaptations and challenges. There is plenty to celebrate about this unprecedented year!
• Read an update on EMU’s Cross-cultural program and how it’s adapted.
• EMU’s virtual offerings have expanded, from professional trainings and coursework to new online degrees. View options at this comprehensive website: .

After five successful seasons, Bert recently stepped down as the Royals’ women’s volleyball coach. This part-time position keeps her on staff in an administrative role and retains her role as Senior Woman Administrator.

Bert will assist in the operations of the EMU Athletic Department, specifically overseeing the academic support program for athletes, the graduate assistant program, orientation and educational programming for staff and athletes, and program evaluation.

“I’m grateful to EMU for the opportunity to continue serving the campus community, even in a part-time role,” Bert said. “I loved my time coaching women’s volleyball at my alma mater, but the team’s athletic needs had surpassed my abilities and I wanted to be more present for my own family. While coaching, I had added the role of Senior Woman Administrator and became a member of the Athletic Leadership Team, which allowed me to stretch and find growth edges that proved challenging but life giving. Athletics colleagues and other campus peers have been so supportive of my move to an administrative position. I feel so lucky to be able to continue to support the amazing Athletics staff as well as remain engaged with student-athletes at a place I love.”

Under Bert, the women’s volleyball program was re-establishing itself, including a 13-13 record last fall. It was the program’s first .500 mark since 2001.

Director of Athletics Dave King said the same abilities that made Bert successful as a coach will now benefit all of the EMU programs.

“I am grateful to the administration for their support in the creation of this Assistant Director of Athletics position,” King said. “It came at just the right time. As Carrie was planning her transition from the head coaching position, she wanted to continue her role as SWA. I have seen firsthand the strength of her organizational and administrative skills during her years of coaching. And her role as SWA and our Leadership Team seemed to spark an interest in a broader athletic administration experience. I believe Carrie is a natural fit for this position. I am excited to work with her in ways that allow her gifts to benefit the athletic department and the student-athletes we serve; along with giving her the opportunity to give back to a place she is passionate about, her alma mater.”

Bert began her duties on July 1.

“I would like to extend a big thanks to President Susan Huxman, Director of Athletics David King, and the members of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the EMU family,” Steinbrecher said. “I am beyond excited to begin this new chapter of life for me and my family. This is a university that deeply values maintaining a culture that cares just as much for the people who work here as they do for the young people we are brought here to grow.”

During his time at crosstown JMU, the Dukes have amassed a record of 193-106, winning two Colonial Athletic Association Championships and earning two trips to the NCAA National Championships. The team has 20 or more wins in each of the past five seasons.

Steinbrecher takes over for Carrie Bert, who resigned after 10 seasons on the staff at Eastern Mennonite, the last five as head coach.

“This is a very exciting time for our women’s volleyball program,” explained King. “Coming from a program that has a very similar culture to what Carrie has developed makes Casey the ideal candidate to take over where Carrie left off and move the program to the next competitive level. His knowledge, experience and passion for volleyball stood out to the committee, along with his commitment to Division III and seeking a better work/life balance for his family than is possible at Division I.”

“I am thrilled to embark on my head coaching journey here at EMU,” Steinbrecher added. “Carrie Bert has done a great job establishing a successful culture here and I hope to be able to build off of that. I am walking into a great situation!”

The Royals finished 13-13 last fall, earning their best finish and first .500 record since 2001. That team graduates four seniors but returns many of their statistical leaders.

After a playing career at Ball State University and coaching on the 2009 NAIA national runner-up Georgetown (Ken.) team, Steinbrecher joined the JMU staff in 2010 to assist his wife, Lauren Steinbrecher.

“There are very few coaching positions that would cause me to consider leaving JMU,” he explained. “But to me this opportunity is the perfect balance of work and family life while still having the potential to be extremely successful on the court.”

Steinbrecher also has been a High Performance coach for USA Volleyball since 2013 and recently joined the Horizons Edge Sports Campus as the youth volleyball program coordinator.

“Casey’s connections, networks and involvements with the highest levels of women’s volleyball will be an asset in his recruiting efforts,” said King. “I am confident that he can make the adjustments necessary in moving from Division I to Division III and by using his skills in teaching, motivating and match planning, he can lead the EMU program to the next step.”

“This year, we decided to focus on the ways that athletics help EMU fulfill its mission and their many contributions to our community,” said Director of Athletics Dave King.

A panel on peacemaking and intercollegiate athletics featured women’s volleyball coach Carrie Bert, men’s soccer coach Roger Mast, senior volleyball player Maria Yoder, and senior basketball player Josh Good.

King moderated a second evening discussion on the topic of sustainability and intercollegiate athletics.

Athletes volunteered to help move rugs for a Ten Thousand Villages sales event. Women’s lacrosse coach Katie Russo said the time also involved some learning about the rugs themselves, “beautiful creations that can take up to two years for Pakistani rug artisans to develop.” Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit organization specializing in fairly traded goods from around the world.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted their weekly huddle on Thursday evening. The leaders include Bailey Hall (baseball), Laurie Serrell (track and cross country), Brittany Viands (softball), Megan Breidigan (soccer), Austin Sachs (golf), Lindsey Krisak (basketball), Justin Odom (track and field), and assistant baseball coach Adam Posey.

Among the notable athletic events scheduled during the week, EMU softball hosted a StrikeOut Cancer doubleheader, splitting with crosstown rival Bridgewater. On Saturday, the track and field team hosted the first home meet since 2008 and the baseball team played in a doubleheader against nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon.

Women’s collegiate triathlon, which features a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike ride and a 5-kilometer run, is classified by the NCAA as an “emerging sport.”

Leading the way for the addition, ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř received a three-year grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. With the grant essentially covering the expenses of the program through the 2021-22 season, and qualified coaches already on campus, Hepler said EMU was prepared to jump on a good wave and ride it.

“There is already an interest in the sport from the women of EMU,” he said, “and we have expert coaches on campus who are also enthusiastic. And there was this small window in time that if EMU acted quickly that we could apply for and receive a grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation that would pay for the first three years of the sport. We needed to act quickly to take advantage of the moment and, with the support of our administration, we did. As a result, we officially received a generous USA Triathlon Foundation grant, and we start practice on August 18. Kowabunga!”

Hepler himself spent many years as a competitive triathlete and participated seven times in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joanna Friesen will also give time to the new women’s triathlon team, and Professor Chad Gusler, an accomplished swim coach, will take on an assistant coach spot.

“A year ago, women’s triathlon at EMU wasn’t part of the conversations around strategic initiatives for enrollment growth,” King said. “However, the convergence of forces has created the ‘perfect storm’ and we are very excited about adding this new program. Bob Hepler’s knowledge, experience and passion for the sport, along with Shenandoah Valley’s rich biking culture, the interest level of distance runners in triathlon, the increased use of water training for runners and of course the support from USA Triathlon and funding opportunities from the USA Triathlon Foundation all add up to this being the ideal time to add the sport.”

With the addition of women’s triathlon, EMU now sponsors 19 collegiate sports. Women’s lacrosse will also be starting play in the spring of the 2019-20 academic year.

“USA Triathlon is pleased to welcome ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř — a school that not only offers excellent academic and athletic opportunities, but also prioritizes service, social justice and global engagement — to the women’s NCAA triathlon family,” said Rocky Harris, CEO of USA Triathlon. “We are proud of the fact that, with the addition of EMU, prospective varsity triathletes now have eight universities in USA Triathlon’s Mideast Region to choose from.”

Because of the status of the sport, collegiate teams can participate in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon, yet not necessarily hosted by an NCAA institution. Hepler is building a schedule for this fall to include events at various locations around Virginia, such as nearby in Charlottesville and Richmond.

With the cross training already being used in his program, Hepler says triathlon will supplement what he does with his runners in cross country and track and field. He envisions some of the women on his team participating in both sports.

King is also excited how triathlon could benefit existing students but also give EMU a unique draw to prospective students.

“There is always excitement when new opportunities are made available to student-athletes in their pursuit of a holistic educational experience,” King said. “I’m grateful for the leadership that Coach Hepler has, and will continue to provide in establishing this program. Of course, this isn’t possible without the support of USA Triathlon, whose staff have been excellent to work with.”

Hepler is hosting an informational meeting this Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room in the EMU Athletic Suite. The time is geared towards EMU students interested in joining the team, although anyone with questions regarding the sport are welcome to attend.

Triathlon was approved as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in 2014, and has a 10-year window to demonstrate sustainability as a NCAA sport option. Triathlon is a fall sport in the NCAA schedule, with the Women’s Collegiate National Championships generally set for early November.

About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Current Varsity Collegiate Triathlon Programs (as of March 12, 2019)

NCAA Division I
Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.)
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Hampton University (Hampton, Va.)
University of San Francisco (San Francisco. Calif.)
University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)
Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.)

NCAA Division II
American International College (Springfield, Mass.)
Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, N.C.)
Black Hills State University (Spearfish, S.D.)
Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, Colo.)
Daemen College (Amherst, N.Y.)
Davis & Elkins College (Elkins, W.V.)
Drury University (Springfield, Mo.)
King University (Bristol, Tenn.)
Montana State University Billings (Billings, Mont.)
Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.)
Southern Wesleyan University (Central, S.C.)

NCAA Division III
Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.)
˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.)
Milwaukee School of Engineering (Milwaukee, Wis.)
North Central College (Naperville, Ill.)
Northern Vermont University-Johnson (Johnson, Vt.)
Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky.)
Trine University (Angola, Ind.)
Willamette University (Salem, Ore.)

Logan recently completed her third season at Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival Hollins University and will start in Harrisonburg on Aug. 23. She replaces Kevin Griffin, who announced his resignation in July.

As the 12th coach in program history, Logan said she was honored to follow in Griffin’s footsteps and uphold the rich tradition of Eastern Mennonite women’s basketball.

“I am grateful for the opportunity provided by (Director of Athletics) Dave King and the rest of the search committee to become a part of the ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř community,” she said. “During my time on campus, I was able to learn more about the cohesive efforts of faculty, staff and members of the greater community towards the development of every single student. I am really looking forward to being a part of this learning environment where all aspects of education are valued.”

King said Logan would continue a program that has become a destination for high school graduates who are looking for a place to play basketball at a high level, learn life lessons and develop lasting relationships.

“I’m really excited to have Jenny join us at EMU to take over the quality program that Kevin developed during his time here,” King said. “She is a rising star in the coaching ranks of the ODAC and I’m glad she is coaching for us now rather than against us.”

Logan, who has also been the cross country coach and director of strength and conditioning at Hollins, brings a wealth of knowledge to Eastern Mennonite with a coaching background that includes stops at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., and another ODAC rival in Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg).

A native of nearby Luray, Va., she completed an All-ODAC career at Bridgewater College in 2012.

“I am honored to be able to return home to the valley and continue to pursue my passion of coaching college basketball,” Logan explained. “While we will continue to recruit all over the Northeast, we will also place an emphasis on recruiting the high caliber student athletes in the Shenandoah Valley.”

King said the local connection was only part of what made Logan the right fit to lead the Royals.

“I’m glad to be able to give Jenny the opportunity to ‘come home’ and give back to basketball and the community after all the game has done for her,” he commented. “Out of a very strong pool of candidates, Jenny’s approach to coaching, her ability to get the most out of her players and her basketball IQ stood out to the committee as attributes that will ensure the continuation of the tradition of strong women’s basketball at Eastern Mennonite. I believe that Jenny will be a very successful coach at EMU and look forward to her being here a long time.”

Logan expects to keep the up-tempo approach that the Royals utilized to earn three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2013-15.

“The future of EMU women’s basketball will continue to build on the strengths of our current student athletes by not only looking to push the pace but to control the pace of the game on both ends of the floor,” she explained. “We will have a smart, attack-mentality offense balanced with a well-prepared defense.”

Logan inherits a team that graduated only two seniors and returns four starters, including All-ODAC Third Team forward  (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge). EMU finished second in the ODAC in three point shooting last year and brings back two of the best individuals in  (Alexandria, Va./Thomas A. Edison) and  (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial).

Logan expects her existing knowledge of the Royals to be a big boost to the coaching transition.

“I am looking forward to coaching both the returning and incoming student-athletes,” said Logan. “Having been in the conference for the last three seasons, I have seen many of the current players develop and am excited about helping them to continue to grow during their college careers. There’s a lot of talent on the roster and I can’t wait to see where it can take us!”

The 2018-19 women’s basketball season opens Nov. 16-17 at the McDaniel Tip-Off Classic in Westminster, Md. The full schedule will be released next month.

Nor did she have any idea just how many students she would teach, advise, coach and mentor at the university: Considering the number of courses she taught each semester as well as her class sizes, Brownscombe probably taught an estimated one-third of the student body each semester. For 15 years with the , she was the field placement coordinator for what amounts to several hundred practicum and student teachers.

So the likelihood that any student over the past 40 years graduated without relating to Brownscombe in some capacity is pretty slim.

That legacy was honored earlier this month during a reception attended by colleagues.

[Good wishes to Sandy are welcome in the comments box at the end of the article. Each message will be shared with her.]

One of those colleagues is also a former student: Roger Mast, associate professor of physical education and men’s soccer coach for the past 27 years. He noted that the opportunity to work alongside a passionate, committed and welcoming colleague who continuously “reflected and improved her own teaching practice is a gift we’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

Brownscombe was the second non-Mennonite faculty member, and the first female non-Mennonite, to be hired, noted Director of Athletics Dave King.

Her pioneering didn’t stop there. She coached three sports and 32 total teams: women’s basketball for 12 years, from 1978-90; field hockey for 16 years, from 1978-93; and men’s volleyball for eight years, from 1991-98.

This last coaching term is notable, says King. If Brownscombe is not the first woman to coach men’s sports in the NCAA, she is certainly among the first. That she did this at a private Christian college is also notable.

In the record books, Brownscombe is No. 1 in wins for and , and for women’s basketball (notably, she has been the longest-serving coaches in the first two sports, by several years; current women’s basketball coach Kevin Griffin logged his 12th year, to equal Brownscombe service and exceed her wins record, just this year).

She is one of three coaches with her mentor Miriam “Mim” Mumaw and Eugene Hostetler.

“You have pioneered change or embraced change at every turn in our athletic and physical education program at EMU, so thank you for being a trailblazer,” President Susan Schultz Huxman said. “That takes energy, conviction, confidence and steady optimism and faith in a university’s future.”

In April 2018, the EMU Board of Trustees honored Brownscombe as the first physical education faculty member to receive professor emerita status.

A role model for future role models

Reflecting on her career, Brownscombe said in a later interview that she was most proud of her record as an academic advisor, helping students to create a smooth and efficient pathway to timely graduation – a challenging task considering the practicum and student-teaching requirements for physical education and teacher education.

Her student evaluations highlight her strengths as a teacher. “I tried every semester to be better than the semester before,” she said. “That was very important to me, to get better at my work, to be a better teacher.”

For many years, all of the time-consuming coaching responsibilities – such as state-wide and regional recruitment, planning for and managing practices, driving the team to competitions – were accomplished on top of a full teaching load.

Though Brownscombe says she thinks back on that time and is still amazed at her own resilience, she says she felt a strong responsibility to model to her students how to balance the two roles. For all students, it was important to see a female coach in a leadership role.

“For the first half of my career, I was a coach and teacher, and I felt it was really important to model those dual roles to health and physical education majors because that was often the role they were going into,” she said.

Helping all teachers to be better teachers

Brownscombe arrived at EMU (then Eastern Mennonite College) with teaching experience in the Providence, Rhode Island, schools, as well as an MA in physical education from Washington State University and a BA in physical education from University of Northern Colorado. In 2004, she earned an EdD in K-12 curriculum from Argosy University, Sarasota.

She chaired the physical education and recreation department three times (1987-90, 1992-94 and 2015-17) and was interim chair of the teacher education department during two sabbaticals.

With various teaching responsibilities in both teacher education and physical education departments, she was field experience coordinator for 15 years, representing EMU on the MidValley Consortium for Teacher Education from 2000-2015.

In this capacity, she helped to develop an innovative new model, which emphasized co-teaching between the P-12 classroom teacher and the preservice teacher.

“When the new Standards of Learning requirements were introduced, local principals were concerned about how student teachers might impact learning,” she explained. “The model then was that the student teacher spent a few weeks observing and then took over the classroom while the regular teacher stepped out.”

Adapting a previously used co-teaching model, Brownscombe and other teacher education professionals in the MidValley Consortium eventually moved regional preservice education onto new – and better – ground. The consortium research, conducted in Augusta County schools and eventually shared at state and national conferences, showed students learning in a co-teaching model actually improved their test scores.

In the MidValley Consortium role, Brownscombe developed and shared research and knowledge gleaned about all aspects of teacher education at various conferences. Some of these topics included:

• developing co-teaching skills in clinical faculty.
• the nature of interactions between clinical faculty and preservice teachers.
• the relationship between clinical faculty and student teachers.
• the role of collaboration and reflection among teachers and students.
• performance assessments as related to co-teaching and to student teachers.
• teacher retention.
• transitioning teacher candidates from preparation to professional practice.

Joining EMU colleagues, she presented at conferences on experiences of preservice teachers in practicum settings, socially just learning, and unique qualities of the liberal arts-based preservice teacher curriculum.

Leadership beyond EMU

Brownscombe was on the board of directors from 2011-16 of Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), a national organization that represents over 700 colleges and universities, over 500 major school systems, and the majority of state departments of education.

She also co-chaired the 2014 national conference and served in leadership positions for four other conferences: service two times as planning committee co-chair and once as a member, and twice as program committee co-chair.

Brownscombe also co-chaired the ATE’s Commission on the Development of/and Preparation for Teaching the Whole Child, and was a four-year member of the association’s standing committee on technology and the future of teacher education.

With the Virginia Association of Teacher Educators, during 20 years of membership, she served as president from 2007-09, which included two-year terms before and after as president-elect and past president. She was the higher education delegate from 2011-12.

She was also active in leadership roles for the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (VAHPERD), and served as one of the lead teachers at James Madison University’s Content Teaching Academy.

Hepler will start in Harrisonburg early this summer, upon completion of his 14th season in a similar role at the University of Texas at Tyler.

After a very successful tenure at UT-Tyler, Hepler was excited to step into the recent era of growth at EMU.

“I am impressed with EMU’s commitment to cross country and track & field,” Hepler said. “I will get to put together a quality staff and see the development of first class facilities. On top of that, the leadership at EMU have a strong desire to see me become an important part of the EMU community. That means that I’ll have the opportunity to impact students away from the sport. That opens up so many unknown possibilities. That’s very exciting to me. I can’t wait to get started.”

Under Hepler, UT-Tyler cross country and track & field teams have won 22 conference titles, including the men’s cross country team taking 12 of the past 13 American Southwest Conference Championships. He started the Patriots’ track & field program in 2008, accounting for six of his ASC titles. Over the past four years, his program has produced All-Americans in 14 events, including four individual champions.

Director of Athletics Dave King said Eastern Mennonite is very fortunate to have found someone with the breadth of experience that Hepler brings with him.

“This is truly an exciting time for our cross country and track & field program,” explained King. “Bob is the perfect fit for EMU and the right person to lead the growth of our running program. He understands EMU and his values and philosophy align well with the university.”

Hepler said that seeing the potential of EMU’s cross country and track & field program, as well as the quality and philosophy of the university as a whole, was vital for him to even entertain leaving UT-Tyler.

“EMU would have to be truly amazing to take me away from a school and people I cherish,” he said. “After meeting with key staff and faculty, and especially after meeting with members of the cross country and track & field program, I recognized the unusually deep affection that the people have for EMU. I concluded that EMU will challenge me and make me grow.”

The ability to focus solely on coaching drew in Hepler, who is also the director of UT-Tyler’s large recreational sports program and facility.

“I am so excited to see how good of a coach that I can become,” he explained. “At EMU, that means so much more than just winning and developing athletes. I get to play a key role in developing students’ desires to serve God and others. Working at EMU will be fulfilling and fun. How could I possibly run away from an opportunity like that?”

With Hepler finishing out the track & field season with the D-III Patriots, EMU has hired Ken L. Nafziger as the interim track and field coach.

As part of the interim hire, the five current assistant coaches will increase their responsibilities to cover the positional coaching of the student-athletes.

Jeremy Heizer is the most tenured of the five assistants, in his second season as the throwing coach. Joanna Friesen will focus on the distance runners after also assisting the cross country teams this fall.

Michael Allen will coach the jumpers, Richard Robinson the hurdles, and recent Broadway star Tim Miller the pole vaulters.

“While interim coaching arrangements are challenging, I can’t say enough about the assistant coaches who agreed to increase their time and Ken for his willingness to provide leadership this season and prepare for Bob coming this summer,” King said. “Ken’s past coaching experiences, his familiarity with EMU and his passion for EMU track & field make him a good fit to bridge the gap between changes of the past year and the stability of a new coaching staff.”

Nafziger, who had been EMU’s Vice President for Student Life for 14 years before leaving recently to pursue opportunities as a psychologist, has seven years of experience as a high school cross country and track & field coach, coaching at Broadway (Va.) High School as well as Mandera Government Boy’s Secondary School in Kenya.

“I appreciate this opportunity to coach track & field at EMU,” commented Nafziger. “Having met Bob, I can wholeheartedly prepare the current athletes and recruit new ones who will benefit from such an accomplished and caring coach.”

Heizer, a 2016 alum who went to Nationals in the shot put, was excited to take another step in his coaching career.

“It means a lot that I will get to connect to younger athletes and share experiences I’ve been through (as well as) what they go through,” he explained.

Hepler’s coaching philosophy fits well with EMU’s goal to do more than just produce good athletes.

“I always tell my athletes that they should put three things in front of their commitment to the sport: 1. Serving God and Others – because that’s why we are on this planet; 2. Love of Family – while you don’t get to miss a practice to go home for Aunt Betsy’s birthday, honoring your family through your actions and words reflects who you are at your core; 3. School – students are at EMU to get an education. Additionally, students and their families are making financial sacrifices to pay for this education so study habits must be strong. School is always more important than the sport.”

Jim Smucker, Vice President for Enrollment & Student Life, thought Hepler’s commitment and success with the well-rounded NCAA D-III philosophy made him stand out among the pool of candidates.

“I believe Bob is an outstanding match not only for our cross country and track & field program but for the larger EMU community,” said Smucker. “He resonates deeply with our mission and values. Bob brings a track record of holistic student development including player excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in community service.”

Before his time at UT-Tyler, Hepler served as the athletic director at the University of Maine at Machias. He also had a background in student life.

Eastern Mennonite will next turn their attention to the hiring of an associate track & field coach.

EMU’s track & field teams pick up the indoor season in earnest at the Finn Pincus Invitational hosted by Roanoke College on Jan. 26 and 27.

In his 15th season at his alma mater, Dean is the all-time winningest coach in program history and has successfully changed the culture of the EMU program. Over the past nine years, the Royals have had six of the seven most successful seasons in school history in terms of overall wins.

Dean cited family reasons for making the 2017-18 season his last as head coach.

“This is without question the toughest decision I’ve made in my life,” he said. “I’ve loved my time here at EMU and the success we’ve had has surpassed the wildest expectations I could have ever had coming into the job in 2003. I never thought I’d be blessed with the players that have played for me.”

Taking over a team that finished 3-22, and a program that had earned just seven winning campaigns in the previous 37 seasons, Dean quickly doubled his win total in each of his first two years with the Royals. The 2009-10 team vaulted EMU onto the national scene, going to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Dean currently has a coaching record of 194-186, giving him 101 more wins than Sherman Eberly, who is second in EMU history with 93 victories. He has earned double digit wins in each of the last nine years.

Director of Athletics Dave King said Dean not only put his stamp on the men’s basketball program at Eastern Mennonite, but on the campus as a whole.

“While understanding Kirby’s decision and respecting him putting his family first, his departure is a huge loss for EMU,” said King. “What he has done for the men’s basketball program and the university is hard to put into words, and the impact he has had on the lives of many young men cannot be measured. The community got to see exciting and entertaining basketball, the competitiveness and the wins, but I was privileged to watch the investment in lives that Kirby carried out each day. To me, that will be his greatest legacy. There are many young men who will continue to benefit from the lessons he taught while they were part of the basketball program.”

Dean has coached 21 All-ODAC players, including three-time First Team honoree Jason Sager and 2011 ODAC Player of the Year Todd Phillips. Phillips was named to three different All-America teams, including First Team All-America in 2010.

Dean earned the ODAC Coach of the Year award in 2010, when his Runnin Royals won the ODAC Regular Season Title, twice upsetting the nation’s top-ranked team. They broke numerous program scoring and attendance records before their run in the NCAA Tournament, and hold the best record in program history at 25-5. The following year EMU finished at 22-5, marking the two best seasons ever for the Royals. Combined with a pair of 17-win seasons from 2013-15, the basketball men have earned the program’s four best seasons during the past eight years.

While he enjoyed the success, Dean said his family life was the major factor for his decision.

“It really came down to what’s best for my family at this juncture of my life,” he explained, “and the recruiting road for the last 25 years and especially the last 15 here at EMU has really taken a toll on me. The time away from home was far less painful back when my wife could travel with me all over the place and I didn’t have a daughter at home wondering where I was.”

He has also coached at D-I Virginia Military Institute and Waynesboro High School.

A native of nearby Penn Laird and graduate of Spotswood High School, Dean was excited to give back to his community in a new way.

“The chance to work for the county I’ve grown up in and loved my entire life was just too good to pass up especially considering the age of my daughter,” he said. “Few coaches get to leave under good circumstances, so I’m happy this process has been amicable. Working at EMU was a dream come true, the school and the people I worked with made it everything I always believed it would be. Thankfully, back in 2003, the athletic director at that time, Larry Martin, took a chance on me. Then Dave King came along and I can’t imagine ever working for a better athletic director and a better person than he has proven to be.”

King said there are few coaches anywhere that work as hard as Dean does.

“He is a tireless recruiter, consistently optimistic and accepts every challenge or hurdle that stands in his way of being the best coach he can be and coaching the best team possible,” King said. “He has been a positive representative for the university and built connections that have benefited the university in many ways. I have often wondered if there was anyone in Virginia that Kirby didn’t know or who didn’t know him. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Kirby and will miss him greatly. He is a man of deep faith and integrity and I wish him the best in his new career.”

King said a national search for Dean’s replacement would start immediately.

Aylor was a Madison County High School softball player who died in an ATV accident in August 2014, shortly before she was to begin her college career at Eastern Mennonite. A plaque in honor of Aylor marks the completed seating area.

Director of Athletics Dave King said the seating area, as well as a red bud tree recently planted near Gehman Field, will provide a lasting memory of Aylor, as will a second project, started at the request of the family. can be purchased for $100 to complete the walkway in front of the seating area and create a living memory of Aylor. The fundraiser will run through the end of December with the bricks installed in the spring.

“This is a special day for a special person,” said Coach , “and Kaitlin Aylor will never be forgotten by the EMU softball community.”

Angelia Miller, former player and current graduate assistant with the team, remembered meeting Aylor at a softball camp in 2012. The teenager introduced herself by her nickname, “Flea.”

“Every time we walk down this hill to the softball field, we know Kaitlyn is here,” Miller said.

Aylor, a shortstop, had attended every EMU game since her freshman year of high school and made it her goal to become part of the Royals team. She wore double zero on her uniform in high school and negotiated with McCurdy to let her wear that same number with the Royals.

Jordan Aylor, a 2015 graduate and Kaitlin’s cousin, gave thanks on behalf of the family and mourned the loss of her teammate and future elementary school teacher. She urged the softball players to play each game “as if it could be your last and play your hardest.”

The event was one of three posthumous dedications during the weekend’s Centennial Homecoming and Family Weekend: the others included the dedication of an outdoor sculpture to an artist-alumnus who died of cancer and an alumnus who was murdered in Africa while on a peacekeeping mission.

President Susan Schultz Huxman expressed sympathies to the grieving family and gratitude for “the way that you have joined us in honoring Kaitlin’s spirit.”

“In the many softball seasons to come, may this space pulsate with competitive games; sparkle with great plays, particularly at the shortstop position; and above all, create lasting community among players, fans and families in the spirit of our master teacher and coach, Jesus Christ,” she said. “Kaitlin, we feel your presence. We thank you for your legacy. We gather as a community to extend your witness as the student-athlete-citizen we strive to attract at EMU. May double zero have double impact at EMU today and always.”

The dedication was followed by an alumni game, which involved Miller and Jordan Aylor, along with Brooke Sigrist, Brooke Hensley, Mariah Foltz, Aislinn Lucas Bowen, Niki Cuevas, Casey Racer, Lauren Seale, Lauren Campbell and Erin Fartel.

For more information about purchasing a brick to honor Kaitlin Aylor, call 540-432-4631 or click .

With love in action as the guiding theme of the 2017 , several ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř and Eastern Mennonite Seminary faculty and staff are sharing their research and wisdom at the Orlando, Florida, event.

Among the featured speakers to address youth is Assistant Professor of Social Work Melody Pannell, who wrote in a , “I sense a strong call for the church to continue shifting our response to injustice.”

She continues: Instead of showing love with just our words, we must begin speaking truth to power and taking deliberate and sustainable action in love. “Love is a Verb” is more than just a “theme.” This is a call to a higher level of discipleship and a deeper willingness to sacrifice ourselves and embody the love of Jesus Christ. It is a call to “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” in a way that utilizes our collective and individual power, influence and resources to dismantle gender discrimination, address historical harms and resist structural racism.

Pannell, who was born and raised in Harlem, New York City, grew up attending Seventh Avenue Mennonite Church in Harlem and attended ˛ÝÝŽÉçÇř. After graduating in 1997, she worked and earned both a Masters in Social Work and a Master of Divinity degree.

At the conference, Pannell shares her personal story and the challenges of finding and living in her own “” in a presentation for youth, as well as three other presentations on sexualization and healthy sexuality, a restorative approach to broken boundaries in congregational life, and her work as founder of Destiny’s Daughters Empowerment Ministry.

Other presenters include:

• , director of athletics and author of “,” speaking to both adults and youth about living and playing with a healthy balance;
• , professor at EMS, speaking to youth about decision-making for the future and the relationship of sports and faith;
• , associate dean at EMS and professor of Bible and religion at EMU, on “Mine, Ours, and Yours: Taking Care of Stuff”;
• , professor of education, pairing with Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, restorative justice coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, to host two sessions for youth on restorative justice for difficult conversations and the basics of circle processes.

Among the featured speakers were alumni Lisa Cameron ’99, director of empowerment services at the YWCA Lancaster, and Phil Kniss ’82, MDiv ’95, pastor at Park View Mennonite Church, as well as two authors who have spoken at EMU, and .

Other faculty, staff and student involvement

Numerous EMU faculty, staff and students are at the convention as delegates for church-wide business sessions representing their home congregations, or as youth group sponsors from their home congregations. These include , undergraduate academic dean, representing Park View Mennonite Church; Ronda Rittenhouse, assistant to the undergraduate dean and youth sponsor for Lindale Mennonite Church, and others.

President is taking part in activities and will bring greetings to an alumni gathering hosted by Jeff Shank, director of alumni and parent engagement. More than 175 EMU and Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduates have registered for the reunion.

Leah Wenger, a sophomore, played a key role in planning this year’s new program for youth. The goal of “Step Up” is to prepare and launch young people into future involvement as denominational delegates and church leaders who are involved with the broader church. Read more .

Shana Peachy Boshart ’86 led the planning for the Step Up program; she is an EMU board of trustee member  and Conference Minister for Christian Formation and Youth Ministry for the denomination’s Central Plains Mennonite Conference.

Senior Nicole Litwiller is representing EMU at the , a “gathering to imagine an Anabaptist future for Mennonite Church USA.” , affiliate associate professor at EMU’s , is facilitating the summit.

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