Julie Lenhart began coaching at Cortland in 1995 and in 19 years has a record of 637-240-2 (.726), which makes her the most successful coach in Red Dragon softball history. In 2012, she became just the seventh softball coach in Division III history to surpass 700 career wins, and her overall record through the 2013 season stands at 757-317-2 (.704) in 24 campaigns.
Her Cortland teams qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs seven straight years from 2007-13 and three consecutive years each from 1997-99 and 2003-05, including World Series appearances in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. She led Cortland to a national runner-up finish at the 2013 World Series and a fourth-place national showing in 2011, along with a tie for fifth place in both 2003 and 2008 and a tie for seventh place in 1998, 2004 and 2009.
Lenhart has been selected for induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame and will be formally inducted at the NFCA's convention in December 2014.
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 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. Lenhart and her staff again received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award.
Cortland made its second straight trip to the World Series in 2009 after capturing the SUNYAC regular-season title. The team posted a 44-9 record, setting a school record for wins in a campaign. For the second year in a row, Lenhart and her staff received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award. In 2010, the Red Dragons compiled a 40-8 record and completed an undefeated run through the SUNYAC schedule and conference tournament to earn an NCAA berth. Lenhart was named the SUNYAC “Coach of the Year” for the fourth time.
In 2011, Cortland made a return trip to the World Series that included a fourth-place showing. The Red Dragons posted a 42-5-1 record and completed a second consecutive unbeaten SUNYAC schedule. Lenhart and her staff received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award. Cortland also reached the 40-win plateau in 2012 with a 41-10 mark. The Red Dragons won the SUNYAC regular-season title, finished second in the conference tournament and tied for 17th nationally in the NCAA playoffs.
In 2013, Lenhart led Cortland to a second-place national finish for the program's best-ever NCAA placement. The Red Dragons were 8-10 at one point during the season, but caught fire in the second half of the season and eventually won their third SUNYAC tournament title in four years as well as an NCAA regional title. At the World Series, Cortland won three of five games, with its only two losses coming to national champion Tufts. The Red Dragons finished the season 35-17 for their 12th straight 30-win season. For the fourth time in six seasons, Lenhart and her assistants were named the Northeast Region "Coaching Staff of the Year."
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 McComb, 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.
