ASTON, PA – Neumann University Director of Athletics and Recreation, Chuck Sack, is pleased to announce the hiring of Shannon Padula as the new Softball coach at Neumann University.

"Shannon is an accomplished leader and softball coach. Her prior experiences at every level of collegiate softball have cultivated her knowledge, skills and abilities extremely well. Our community is excited to experience the contributions she will make to our students and softball program," says Sack about Shannon joining Neumann.

Padula arrives to Neumann after a five year stint as the head coach at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, where she coached at the Division II level. During the 2021 season, Padula led the Devils to the second round of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) and was instrumental in guiding one of her players to first team All-CACC, first team All-Region and third team All-American honors. Under her tutelage, the team improved every season and she led 40 student-athletes onto the CACC All-Academic team.
 
"I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the softball program here at Neumann University", said Padula. "I want to thank Chuck Sack, Dr. Domes and the entire search committee for this amazing opportunity. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to join the Neumann community and continue to build on their winning culture. I look forward to leading our student-athletes in achieving more success on and off the field! Go Knights!" 
 
Prior to her time at University of the Sciences, Padula honed her craft as an assistant coach across all three levels of the NCAA. From 2011 to 2013 she guided FDU-Florham's pitching staff as an assistant at the Division III level, helping to lead the team to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Division championship game in her final season there.
 
In 2013, Padula moved on to the Division I level as Rider University's pitching coach for two seasons, before returning to her alma mater at West Chester University as a pitching coach during the 2016 season. During her lone year on the Golden Rams coaching staff, Padula helped lead the team to a record of 48-9 on its way to a regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament as the #3 seed in the Atlantic Region. She was instrumental in leading six players to all-conference honors, including one player being named the PSAC Pitcher of the Year.
 
Padula also excelled on the field during her own playing career at West Chester, earning Team MVP honors in the 2007 season as well as being named to the All-PSAC second team as a left handed pitcher. She was the first ever Golden Ram player to record 20 wins in a season as a pitcher, finishing her career with 12 program records. Padula was also part of the first West Chester team to make the NCAA tournament in 2008, returning to the tournament again during the 2009 season.