Janelle Breneman, who has spent the past eight years in the SEC
and ACC, was named the ninth head softball coach in UNCG softball
history July 18, 2012. Breneman brings 17 years of collegiate
coaching experience to UNCG, including nine years as a head coach
at both Bucknell and East Stroudsburg.
Breneman spent the past two seasons as the top assistant coach
in the prestigious SEC at South Carolina under head coach Beverly
Smith. She was the infield coach and played a pivotal role in the
team’s defense, while assisting the team’s offense.
Under her direction, South Carolina saw its fielding percentage
improve over 26 points her first year in Columbia, while leading
the SEC in double plays. Offensively, the Gamecocks improved
in every statistical category during her tenure, including raising
the team batting average 51 points in her first year.
Prior to South Carolina, Breneman spent six seasons as an
assistant coach at North Carolina for head coach Donna Papa. She
helped the Tar Heels post five 40-plus win seasons and advance to
the NCAA Tournament every season. She was an integral part of the
program that was ranked in the Top 25 in four of her six seasons in
Chapel Hill.
Under her guidance, the North Carolina defense led the Atlantic
Coast Conference in fielding each year and finished in the top 33
in NCAA Division I all six seasons. Offensively, the Tar Heels
ranked in the top 100 in NCAA Division I in home runs per at-bat
her final three seasons and she helped Danielle Spaulding become a
three-time All-America recipient. During her tenure, eight
different student-athletes received 14 All-ACC selections.
Breneman came to UNC after two head coaching stints over a
nine-year period at Bucknell (2001-04) and East Stroudsburg
(1996-2000). During her run at Bucknell, the Bison made the Patriot
League Tournament in 2004, when she was selected as the Patriot
League Coach of the Year. She served five seasons as the head coach
at Division II East Stroudsburg and helped the Warriors post their
first winning season in four years with a 21-18 record in her
rookie campaign.
Breneman was also a standout on the field, playing two years in
the Women’s Pro Softball League for the Georgia Pride and was
a four-year letterwinner at Bloomsburg University. She was the
starting shortstop during her career and earned All-America honors
as a senior. A three-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference selection, she still holds the Huskies’ career
record with 351 assists. She helped Bloomsburg to the NCAA Division
II Championships all four years, finishing second in the nation in
1991 and third in both 1990 and 1992.
Breneman earned a bachelor’s degree in adult health and
cardiac rehabilitation from Bloomsburg in 1993. She was inducted
into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Ephrata
High School Hall of Fame in 2001.
- UNCG -