There may never be another softball coach in the northeast as famous as Bill Edwards. At least at Hofstra and Long Island there won’t. After 25 seasons in Hempstead, Edwards announced on Monday, May 19 that he is retiring from his post.
“It’s been a great run and so much fun working with so many great student-athletes,” Edwards said in a statement. “It has been rewarding to see that so many still embrace old-school coaching. The only thing I regret with leaving now is not being able to work longer with our administration. But I know they’ll take good care of Larissa (Anderson). The timing is perfect to turn it over to Larissa, who I respect and admire so much. I’ve given her more and more responsibility every year and she’s thrived. She’s one of the top coaches in Division I. The incoming recruits are in great hands and the program will make a seamless transition.”
He is the winningest coach in any program in the history of the Hofstra Department of Athletics.
Instead of writing about how wonderful of a person and coach Edwards is, because it’s true he is, let’s let the numbers do the speaking for just how brilliant of a career he had (all numbers/notes from Hofstra Athletics):
*Edwards’ career ran from 1990 to 2014 that spanned 1,350 games, leading Hofstra to all 15 of the program’s NCAA Tournament appearances.
*Under his guidance, Hofstra went from a below .500 team in 1989 to a nationally respected power that captured 18 postseason conference championships, including 10 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles (including the first seven in the league’s history).
*This past February Edwards earned career victory No. 900 and finished his NCAA run with a 928-419-3 ledger that is good for a .687 winning percentage.
*The Pride finished at least 10 games better than .500 in 23 of his 25 seasons.
*The Pride has won at least one game in each of their last 12 NCAA Tournament appearances.
*Edwards was named the Regional Coach of the Year 12 times.
*Edwards was enshrinement in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also in the Iona Athletic Hall of Fame for his time as the school’s hockey coach (1968-1979).