Aug. 7, 2007

Garden City, N.Y. - Danielle Henderson and Sunny Oelling will join the softball staff as announced today by Adelphi University Head Coach Paige Smith. Henderson will serve as a pitching consultant, while Oelling with work with the outfield in areas of speed development and hitting.

Henderson spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with four as the team's first assistant and the last two as a volunteer assistant coach. A member of the gold medal-winning 2000 U.S. Olympic softball team and 2001 WPSL Gold team, Henderson was inducted into the New England Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

"The addition of Danielle is a plus for the program," Coach Smith stated. "She still competes in the national pro fast pitch league and has the unique perspective of both athlete and coach. Her wealth of knowledge at the international and collegiate level will help catapult our battery to the top [of the conference]."

One of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in NCAA history, Henderson holds 25 school records and finished her career second all-time on the NCAA's strikeout list with 1,343. A three-time All-America selection, Henderson was a four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and a four-time A-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Henderson capped her brilliant career in 1999 by winning the Honda Award, given annually to the nation's top softball player. During the summer of that year, Henderson competed as part of the U.S. National Team that captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games and the Canada Cup. In 2001, Henderson was recognized for her accomplishments by becoming the first player in UMass softball history to have her jersey retired.

A native of Commack, N.Y., she earned her bachelor's degree in Sport Management from UMass in the spring of 1999. She currently resides in Patchogue, New York.

Oelling was a three-time all-conference selection at the University of southern Indiana. During her senior year she earned all-region honors. She graduated in 2005 with a BS in Art. She served one year as a graduate assistant coach at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2006 while pursing a M.F.A in Graphic Design. That year the team won the NAIA National Championship, setting a school record (38-16-0) for most wins. Most recently she worked as a marketing and promotions intern at the Women's Sports Foundation.

"I am looking to Sunny to help improve our short game," coach Smith explained. "I know she was a vital part of sustaining the high level of play at SCAD and I expect her to lead our outfield at Adelphi." Oelling, a native of Valparaiso, Indiana, she currently resides in East Rockaway, New York.

Returning assistant coach Amy Delmore completes the staff. "Amy knows the ins and outs of Adelphi and we are very lucky to have an alumnus with such a decorated career continuing to work with the staff."