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Fran Troyan
Fran Troyan begins his 28th season as head coach of the Lehigh softball team. As head coach, Troyan has an overall record of 865-492-8, a Patriot League record of 370-86, and he has led Lehigh to 19 Patriot League regular season titles, 12 tournament crowns, and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. Under Troyan’s guidance, Lehigh captured 11 consecutive regular season Patriot League crowns from 1999-2009 and has won 10 of the last 18 tournament titles.
Troyan led Lehigh back to the top of the Patriot League in 2022. Prepped by a rigorous non-league schedule, Lehigh found its groove in April and May, posting a 15-3 Patriot League mark. The Mountain Hawks won the final regular season series of the year at Boston University, snapping BU’s nation-best 27-game winning streak. Lehigh returned to Boston for the Patriot League Tournament and defeated the Terriers twice in the championship round to claim the program’s league-leading 15th tournament title and first since 2017.
In Lehigh’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, the Mountain Hawks went 1-2 in the Seattle Regional, using a seventh-inning rally to defeat Weber State 5-4 in the first NCAA Regional victory for Lehigh or any Patriot League school, since 2015.
With an accomplished group of six seniors leading the way, Lehigh finished at 31-20-1 overall. Five players earned All-Patriot League honors, including senior shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich, who repeated as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and earned NFCA All-Region honors for the second straight season. Senior Jaelynn Chesson set single season and career records for home runs, while classmate Addie Kittel turned in a career year and also earned first-team all-league honors.
Team captains Karsen O’Rourke and Emily Cimino were second team All-Patriot League honorees, while senior pitcher Gabriella Nori was named Most Valuable Player following Lehigh’s Patriot League Tournament triumph.
The 2021 season saw Troyan guide his Mountain Hawks through the rigors of competing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lehigh went 18-16 overall and the Mountain Hawks once again reached the championship round of the Patriot League Tournament.
Four Mountain Hawks were named to All-Patriot League teams, with shortstop Carley Barjaktarovich named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Barjaktarovich and Jaelynn Chesson were recognized as NFCA All-Regio selections in addition to their Patriot League prowess. Off the field, Barjaktarovich was the Patriot League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball and a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree.
The COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season saw the Mountain Hawks win eight of 17 games, highlighted by a victory over James Madison in late February, the program’s first win over a nationally-ranked foe since 2006.
Troyan reached another career milestone during the 2019 season, as he picked up career win No. 800 on April 24 when Lehigh blanked Seton Hall 6-0 in the second game of a doubleheader. The Mountain Hawks continued to improve as the season progressed, shaking off a tough month of March to win 16 of their final 23 games and returned to the championship round of the Patriot League Tournament. Junior Mary-Hannah Smith and freshman Jaelynn Chesson garnered first team All-Patriot League honors for their offensive prowess.
The numbers weren’t up to par with what the Lehigh softball program is accustomed to, but the 2018 Mountain Hawks showed significant improvement in the second half of the season. Lehigh went 20-11-1 in 32 games after returning from its spring break trip to Florida, and won two elimination games on day two of the Patriot League Tournament to reach the championship round for the sixth time in eight seasons.
Sophomore Parker Boyd emerged as a reliable ace in the pitcher’s circle and her second half improvement resulted in second team All-Patriot League honors. Senior Nicole Yozzo capped her storied career by earning first team All-Patriot League honors. Yozzo led the Mountain Hawks in batting and set school and Patriot League records for single season stolen bases, while also becoming Lehigh’s career leader in steals. Second baseman Mary-Hannah Smith was Lehigh’s third All-Patriot League honoree.
In 2017, Troyan’s Mountain Hawks returned from spring break with an 8-14 record but Lehigh turned things on in the second half of the season, using a 24-3 stretch to capture its sixth straight Patriot League regular season title. The Mountain Hawks fell to Boston University in the second round of the Patriot League Tournament, but battled back through the loser’s bracket, defeating the Terriers twice in the championship round to claim Lehigh’s 14th Patriot League Tournament crown. It marked the first time since 2005 that Lehigh won the Patriot League Tournament out of the loser’s bracket. Lehigh returned to California, competing against UCLA and Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.
For his efforts in helping turn around Lehigh midseason, Troyan was named Patriot League Coach of the Year for the seventh time. Lehigh placed a league-leading eight players on All-Patriot League teams, with senior Christine Campbell being named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and senior Vicky Lattanzio earning her fourth All-Patriot League award. Junior Carolyn Wright was the first team all-league catcher for the second straight season and was also named Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball. Campbell and Wright garnered third-team NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region accolades as well.
Lehigh captured its fifth consecutive Patriot League regular season title in 2016 and once again hosted the league tournament in the first full season at Leadership Park. The Mountain Hawks posted a 36-16 record for the program’s 16 consecutive season with at least 30 victories. Troyan reached another personal milestone as he collected his 700th career win in Lehigh’s 7-1 win over Marist in the final game of their spring break trip to Florida on March 19.
Seven Mountain Hawks were named to All-Patriot League teams, including seniors Morgan Decker and Alexis Watanabe, who became four-time All-Patriot League selections. In a season where Decker became Lehigh’s career leader in home runs, she also garnered All-Region honors for the third time, and also became a three-time Academic All-Patriot League selection as well as a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
After a two-year drought, Lehigh returned to the top of the Patriot League in 2015 as the Mountain Hawks claimed both the regular season and tournament titles. Lehigh ranked among the nation’s leaders in winning percentage with a sparkling 40-9 mark (.816). The Mountain Hawks broke their own school and Patriot League record with 15 consecutive victories in March and April. Emily Bausher won her second consecutive Patriot League Pitcher of the Year award and ranked among the nation’s leaders in ERA. Alexis Watanabe ranked ninth nationally in batting average while Nicole Yozzo was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. All three players garnered NFCA All-Region honors.
On April 22, Lehigh opened its new home facility, Leadership Park, with a 7-1 win over Villanova. The Mountain Hawks later won the Patriot League Tournament at Leadership Park and advanced to the NCAA Regionals in Norman, Oklahoma. Lehigh defeated Central Arkansas 3-0 in an elimination game for its first NCAA win since 2009 and dropped two tight games to longtime postseason foe Texas A&M.
Lehigh won its third consecutive Patriot League regular season title in 2014. The Mountain Hawks won four major Patriot League postseason awards, and Troyan was named Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year and the sixth time overall. Morgan Decker won her second straight Patriot League Player of the Year award, while Emily Bausher was named Pitcher of the Year and Alexis Watanabe was named the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year. All three major award winners were NFCA All-Region selections and Academic All-Patriot League selections.
In 2013, Troyan guided the Mountain Hawks to 37 victories. Lehigh swept the Patriot League major awards with Morgan Decker becoming the first player to win the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season and Becca Bliss named Pitcher of the Year for the first time. Rosie Roessel became Lehigh’s fifth consecutive Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in softball, and Troyan was named Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
The Mountain Hawks’ 37-16-1 record included a 14-game winning streak. Troyan reached a personal milestone on April 13 when he posted his 600th career victory as Lehigh defeated Army 2-0 in the second game of a doubleheader.
In 2012, Troyan guided Lehigh to its first regular season title in two years and its second straight tournament title and seventh crown in the last nine years. With Patriot League Player of the Year Jen Colquhoun and Patriot League career hits leader Julie Fernandez leading the offense, and Becca Bliss and Emily Bausher anchoring the pitching staff, the Mountain Hawks finished with a 40-19 overall record and an 18-2 mark against league foes. Lehigh won the Patriot League tournament with three shutout victories, becoming the first Patriot League champion to not allow a run in tournament play. The Mountain Hawks advanced to the NCAA Regionals in Norman, Oklahoma, where they suffered losses to eventual national runner-up Oklahoma and Oregon State. Troyan was recognized as Patriot League Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
The Mountain Hawks also enjoyed a successful season off the field as Colquhoun captured her third straight Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and eventually became the first Lehigh softball player to earn first team Academic All-America honors. Fernandez was one of ten finalists for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
The 2011 season saw Troyan lead the Mountain Hawks back to the NCAA tournament after a one year hiatus. Lehigh rolled through the Patriot League tournament, highlighted by a 14-0 win over host Colgate in the title game. The Mountain Hawks finished with a 33-23 mark and played against WCWS participant Baylor in the College Park, Md. Regional.
In 2010, Troyan guided Lehigh to its tenth straight season with 30 or more victories, while picking up his milestone 500th career victory against Bucknell in April.
The 2009 Mountain Hawks captured their second straight Patriot League tournament crown and advanced to an NCAA Regional Final for the second time in school history. At the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla., Lehigh posted victories over Florida A&M and Texas A&M before bowing to the eventual national runners-up from Florida.
The 2008 season saw, Troyan record his 400th career victory while coaching three All-League performers including Lisa Sweeney, who was the Patriot League’s Player and Pitcher of the Year, and an Academic All-American. The Mountain Hawks won their fourth Patriot League title in five years and returned to the NCAA Regionals in Amherst, Massachusetts where they defeated regional foe Princeton.
In 2006, Troyan guided the Mountain Hawks to a 43-14 record including a 19-1 mark in Patriot League play. The 43 victories established new school and league records for wins in a single season. Troyan’s 2006 team also made noise on the national level, twice knocking off No. 13 Texas A&M en route to becoming the first Patriot League team to win its first round NCAA regional game, the first to win two games in a regional and the first to advance to the regional finals. For their efforts, the Lehigh coaching staff was named the 2006 Mid-Atlantic regional Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
A 1986 graduate of Allegheny College, Troyan earned his bachelor’s in International Studies and later received his law degree from The Dickinson School of Law in 1989. Troyan was an Academic All-America shortstop at Allegheny in 1985, a First-Team All-North Coast Atlantic Conference shortstop in 1985 and 1986, and competed internationally with Athletes in Action.
Troyan came to Lehigh initially as an assistant coach to his wife, Sue, in 1990 and became head coach prior to the 1996 season. In his 31 seasons on South Mountain, Lehigh has won 22 regular season Patriot League Championships and 15 Patriot League Tournament Championships. As head coach, he has produced 47 All-Region performers. He has coached four Academic All-Americans (Jenny Bender ’03, Lisa Sweeney ’09, Jen Colquhoun ’12 and Morgan Decker ‘16) and 162 All-Patriot League selections. Troyan is a seven-time Patriot League Coach of the Year, winning the award in 1997, 2005 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and sharing it in 2007.
Fran and Sue have three children who are all Lehigh graduates: daughter Katie ‘16 and sons David ‘20 and Matthew ‘21.
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