Julie Lenhart began coaching at Cortland in 1995 and in 15 years has a record of 479-200-1 (.705), which makes her the winningest coach in Red Dragon softball history. In 2007, she became the 16th softball coach in Division III history to surpass 500 career wins, and her overall record stands at 599-277-1 in 20 campaigns. Her teams have qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs nine times (1997-99, 2003-05, 2007-09), including World Series appearances in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
In 1997, she earned both State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and East Region “Coach of the Year” honors after her squad finished 30-14 and earned the school’s first NCAA playoff spot since 1992. In 1998, the Red Dragons finished 37-13, captured their first SUNYAC crown since 1992 and earned their first trip to the NCAA Division III World Series since 1985 by winning the NCAA Northeast Regional. Cortland’s performance earned Lenhart and her staff the Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” honor by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
In 1999, the Red Dragons finished 29-19 and played in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Iowa. In 2000, Cortland posted a 27-18 record. The Red Dragons were SUNYAC regular-season co-champions and advanced to the SUNYAC tournament finals. In 2001, Cortland ended with a 28-17 overall record, including a 17-3 finish in conference play, and a second-place finish in the SUNYAC tournament. The Red Dragons posted a 34-11 record in 2002, surpassing the 25-win mark for the sixth straight year, and finished second at the SUNYAC tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
In 2003, Cortland fashioned a 42-8-1 record, establishing a school mark for wins in a season. The Red Dragons captured the SUNYAC title and posted a 3-0 record in their NCAA regional to advance to the World Series, where they finished tied for fifth nationally. The team’s accomplishments earned Lenhart and her staff a second NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award.
In 2004, the Red Dragons tied for seventh nationally after their second straight trip to the World Series and finished the season with a 37-9 record. During the season, Lenhart registered her 400th career win and guided Cortland to the SUNYAC regular-season title. For the third time overall and second season in a row, Lenhart and her staff received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award.
In 2005, Cortland won the SUNYAC regular-season and tournament titles to earn its third straight trip to the NCAA playoffs. The team finished the season 31-11, which included Lenhart’s 300th career win at Cortland. For the second time, she was named the SUNYAC “Coach of the Year.”
Lenhart guided the team to a 34-11 record and a runner-up finish in the conference regular season and tournament in 2006. In 2007, the Red Dragons claimed both the SUNYAC regular-season and tournament titles, which included the school’s first-ever perfect 20-0 mark in league play. Cortland finished the season with a 38-10 record, helping earn Lenhart her third SUNYAC “Coach of the Year” honor.
In 2008, the Red Dragons tied for the SUNYAC regular-season title with a 19-3 mark, won the conference tournament title and tied for fifth nationally at the World Series. Cortland finished the season with a 39-13 record.
In 2009, Cortland made its second straight trip to the World Series after capturing the SUNYAC regular-season title. The team posted a 44-9 record, which is the eighth consecutive season the program has recorded 30 or more victories, and set a school record for wins in a campaign. Lenhart and her staff received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award in both the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Lenhart came to Cortland from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where her teams were a combined 120-77 in five seasons. She was named the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) “Coach of the Year” in both 1990 and 1992, her team winning a league title in the latter season.
A native of Findlay, Ohio, Lenhart is a 1980 graduate of Ohio Northern University. A Dean’s List student, she lettered in basketball, softball and volleyball. She is a member of the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame. She has also taught and coached at the North Central Schools in Pioneer, Ohio, and at Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio.
