Julie Lenhart began coaching at Cortland in 1995 and in 20 years through the 2014 season has a record of 665-255-2, 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 785-332-2 in 25 campaigns. In 2012, Lenhart became just the seventh coach in Division III history to reach 700 wins. Her teams qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs seven straight years from 2007-13 and three consecutive years from 1997-99 and 2003-05, including World Series appearances in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
Lenhart was selected for induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame was 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, the 10th consecutive season with 30 wins or more, and completed a second consecutive unbeaten SUNYAC schedule. For the third time in four seasons, Lenhart and her staff received the NFCA Division III Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” award. In 2012, Cortland again reached the 40-win mark, finishing the season 41-10. The Red Dragons captured the SUNYAC regular-season title and advanced to an NCAA Division III Regional in Amherst, Mass.
In 2013, Lenhart guided the Red Dragons to a national runner-up finish at the World Series after claiming SUNYAC Tournament and NCAA Regional titles. The second-place finish is Cortland’s best in school history. The Red Dragons finished 35-17 on the season after an 8-10 start to the campaign. For the fourth time in six seasons, Lenhart and her assistants were named the Northeast Region “Coaching Staff of the Year.” In 2014, Cortland finished as the SUNYAC regular-season and tournament runner-up, while posting a 28-15 record.
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 also has taught and coached at the North Central Schools in Pioneer, Ohio, and at Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio.
