07/12 - Softball: Alunni Promoted To Head Coach Of Lady Royal Softball Program; Johnson Named Assistant

Immediately, July 12, 2002 Contact: Kevin Southard, SID

ALUNNI PROMOTED TO HEAD COACH OF LADY ROYAL SOFTBALL PROGRAM; JOHNSON NAMED ASSISTANT

Toby Lovecchio, director of athletics at The University of Scranton, has announced that Gerald Alunni has been promoted to head softball coach. Lovecchio also announced the appointment of Jane Johnson as assistant softball coach.

Alunni, an assistant with the Lady Royal softball program over the past two seasons, replaces John Foy, who resigned this past year after leading Scranton to an overall record of 29-39, which included a 15-11 record in 2001-the Lady Royals' first winning season since 1992-and to back-to-back Freedom Conference playoff appearances (2001, 2002) in less than three seasons of coaching. Foy was also named the 2001 Freedom Conference Coach of the Year for leading the Lady Royals to the 16th-best turnaround among all Division III programs that year. Scranton posted a +9.5 differential in the win column in 2001 from its 4-19 record in 2000.

"Gerry has spent the last two seasons as our assistant coach, and he has a complete understanding of what it takes to coach at the University and on the Division III level," says Lovecchio. "His contributions to the softball program have been enormous. He has a wonderful personality, excellent knowledge of the game and a total commitment to the growth and development of our student-athletes, both academically and athletically. We are very fortunate to have him on our athletic staff."

Alunni, a native of Jessup, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the former Jessup High School, holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Millersville University. For the past 32 years, he has taught at the Valley View Middle School. His coaching background includes two stints as an assistant baseball coach at Valley View High School (1970-1973 & 1996-1998) and as an assistant football coach at Lakeland High School (1991-1992).

"I'm elated that I was promoted to head coach of the program and look forward to the challenge of being a head coach," says Alunni, who currently resides in Eynon, Pennsylvania. "I want to continue the success that John Foy started and to carry through on our goal to be one of the best programs in the Freedom Conference."

Johnson, who also serves as head women's tennis coach and associate director of recreation and intramurals, is a graduate of Marywood University, where she was a three-year letter-winner on the women's tennis team and also lettered in basketball and softball. She holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Marywood and a master's degree in elementary education from The University of Scranton.

--LADY ROYALS--