Piedmont University Athletics

The 2017 season serves as the second for Graduate Assistant Carly Van Auken on the Piedmont College softball coaching staff after a successful debut season that saw PC earn a USA South Regular Season Championship and a NCAA National Tournament appearance.  The coach came to Piedmont after wrapping up a career with Division I Kennesaw State University and brought conference championship experience with her to a program rich with its own already.
 
Van Auken joined a Piedmont softball program that had made four appearances in the NCAA National Tournament in the previous six seasons while also winning back-to-back USA South Regular Season titles and a Conference Championship Tournament. 
 
In her first season on staff, Van Auken helped the 2016 Lady Lions to a 29-15 overall record including a 16-4 record in USA South play which gave Piedmont yet another Regular Season title.  Additionally, the Lady Lions put seven on the USA South All-Conference team highlighted by a Rookie and Rookie Pitcher of the Year in Hannah Hoban and Melissa Eckman.  
 
Prior to Piedmont, Van Auken served as a student assistant at Kennesaw State University for the 2015 season, the same program that she played her own collegiate career with.  While helping KSU to a 32-19 season, Van Auken helped the Owls reach the A-Sun postseason yet again, a spot that she became very familiar with during her own playing career with KSU.

"What they're saying about Coach Van Auken..."

"Carly Van Auken has every attribute needed to be a fine collegiate coach.  She knows the game inside and out; she has a great work ethic; and, she can relate to people.  Carly is a second generation coach and possesses a wealth of Softball Knowledge; she is an excellent teacher of the game.  That being said, I believe that her prime assets are her passion and enthusiasm.  Everyday, she she will make it fun to be in the Piedmont Dugout. I coached Carly Van Auken for two years and observed her while she coached for another.  Believe me, she has what it takes."     -Scott Whitlock, Kennesaw State University     Senior Associate Athletic Director & Former Head Softball Coach

"Carly Van Auken loves this game! She played with a real passion that shines like a diamond. Her willingness to share her passion is what will allow her to become a great coach someday. She is just starting on her path in the coaching profession but I have complete confidence that she will make her mark on this sport. She made a gigantic contribution to our program last year as a student assistant and I know she will do the same at Piedmont. I'm very excited to see Carly as she takes this first step on what I think will end up being a great career!"     -Tory Acheson, Kennesaw State University     Head Softball Coach

 

Joining Kennesaw State as a player beginning with her sophomore season, Van Auken wasted little time making an impact as she was one of five players to start in all 57 games for the Owls leading the team to a 33-24 record that season and a regular season championship in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  Van Auken hit .248 with 38 baseknocks including four doubles and a triple while collecting 18 RBIs and 22 walks. 
 
Spending her time at the shortstop spot for KSU, Van Auken fielded at a .897 fielding percentage with 50 putouts and a team-high 81 assists for the A-Sun champs.  Over the next two seasons, the Owls would go on to post a 58-49 overall record with another two appearances in the A-Sun Championship Tournament, a postseason familiar to Van Auken who went to the tourney in each season she suited up for the Owls. 
 
Van Auken’s effect on the Division I program was clear as she put together one of the best defensive seasons of any Kennesaw shortstop over the last decade posting a .938 fielding percentage in her final season.  Playing the spotlight position on defense, it was no surprise that Van Auken was an everyday player with consistency during her career starting in 96 of the team’s 107 games over her final two seasons, one of the best such mark of any player on the team during that time.
 
Before enrolling at Kennesaw State, Van Auken spent her freshman year with the State College of Florida Manatees where she hit .350 with seven stolen bases in 52 games of action.  Having earned 1st Team All-Suncoast Conference honors, Van Auken strung together a 15-game hit streak at one point in the season before moving on to join the Owls after that year in Florida.
 
The daughter of a coach herself having played four seasons for her father, Calvin, at Osceola High School, Van Auken was an All-County performer in Pinellas County selected to the list four times.  Also on the All-Suncoast Team during her junior season, Van Auken played multiple sports at Osceola including basketball, volleyball, and golf during her four years.
 
During her season as a student assistant at Kennesaw State, Van Auken was able to hone her coaching abilities working with Premier Sports Services in Woodstock, Georgia.  During her time with Premier Sport Services, Van Auken worked with athletes in softball training in fielding, catching, hitting, and strength and speed as well.
 
In addition to her time with Premier Sports, Van Auken has had the chance to work with some of the best coaching staffs in the region and the country during her time with Championship Softball.  Van Auken worked with coaches from Georgia Gwinnett, Tennessee Tech, and others while serving on the camp staffs with Championship softball learning from some of the game’s minds at the top level of the collegiate game.
 
Having earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University in 2015, Van Auken is pursuing her Master of Business Administration from the Graduate School at Piedmont College while assisting Head Coach Terry Martin in all facets of the program.