HACKENSACK, N.J. – Director of the Athletics David Langford and the Fairleigh Dickinson Athletic Department have announced the hiring of Katherine "KJ" Kelley as the fifth head coach in Fairleigh Dickinson softball history.

"We are very excited to welcome Katherine to the Fairleigh Dickinson family", said Langford. "She has been successful at multiple levels of softball as both an assistant and a head coach and we are looking forward to her leading our program."

Kelley spent the last two seasons as the head coach at the University of Mary (N.D.). There Kelley guided the Marauders to a record of 57-53 (.518) overall and 28-27 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The 33 wins in 2014 were the most since the program moved to Division II competition in 2006. The Marauders made the NSIC Tournament in 2014 where they lost to Winona State. Kelley coached three First Team All-NSIC players, two Second Team All-NSIC players and a 2014 NSIC Gold Glove Team member. Four more Marauders were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team and Allison Brown was named to the Daktronics Third-Team All-American in 2014.

"It is a great honor and privilege to be working at Fairleigh Dickinson and I am very grateful for this opportunity", said Kelley. "I would like to thank David Langford, Provost Joseph Kiernan and Mensah Peterson for allowing me to be a part of the FDU family and the dynamic community of Teaneck/Hackensack."

"I look forward to continuing the success here at FDU as well as building a program that will compete in the Northeast Conference and on the national", added Kelley.

Before becoming the head coach at Mary, Kelley was an assistant coach at the University of Toledo and spent one season at the University of Vermont. At Toledo, Kelley was responsible for the infielders, catchers and hitters. She also helped the Rockets advance to the Mid-American Conference Tournament in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, the Rockets won their first postseason game since 1996.

Kelley started her coaching career at her alma mater, UMass, in 2007 for Elanie Sortino. The Rainier, Oregon native played four seasons for Sortino at UMass and was a four-time Atlantic-10 All-Conference performer and a three-time NFCA All-Region selection from 2002-06. She also helped the Minutewomen to four straight A-10 titles and four straight NCAA appearances.

Kelley graduated from UMass with a bachelor's degree in sport management.

In 2015, the Knights went 16-20 overall and 10-6 in Northeast Conference play. The Knights also made the NEC Tournament for the second straight season.