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Utah State grad Michell Vlahos was introduced as Menlo College's softball coach Thursday. She spent last year as the hitting coach at UC Riverside and the previous three seasons as hitting coach at NAIA Savannah College of Art and Design.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have Michell lead our softball program into an exciting new era," Menlo Director of Athletics Keith Spataro said. "Michell's wealth of experience, vast knowledge of the game, and tremendous track record provide an incredible opportunity to turn the softball team into a perennial powerhouse year in and year out."

Vlahos, an outfielder with the Aggies, will be assuming control of a program that has a combined 33-118 record over the past four years and has had two non-losing seasons in the past 11.

Vlahos played an influential role as hitting coach in leading the Highlanders to the program's most wins in Division I history with 25, while the team's .281 batting average was also the highest mark of all-time.

Prior to Riverside, Vlahos helped the Bees to a pair of 30-win seasons, two Sun Conference titles, and two trips to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

"I felt it was the right place for me the moment I stepped on campus" Vlahos said. "Keith has given me some great resources to work with; good facilities, great staff, and authority to implement what are necessary into this program to succeed. With these to help, I bring the love of the game, dedication to the program, and the expectation of excellence."

Vlahos was a 2001 graduate of St. Francis High in Sacramento and played her college freshman season at Texas Tech before transferring to Utah State.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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