Emily Kenley joined Lenoir-Rhyne softball as an assistant coach prior to the 2021 season after a standout four-year career in the circle for the Bears.
Since Kenley joined coach Hollar's staff, the Bears have posted one of the most successful stretches in the program's history. Since 2021, Lenoir-Rhyne has a record of 224-98, appeared in five NCAA Tournaments, won three SAC Championships, and advanced to the program's first NCAA Division II Championship Series in 2024.
She has been instrumental in coaching 38 All-Conference and 17 All-Region honorees. Six individuals have been named All-Americans since 2021, including Kylee Leonhardt, the program's first 2x All-American. Under Kenley's guidance, Madison Wilson won SAC Pitcher of the Year in 2026 and Morgan Beeler won both SAC and Region Pitcher of the Year in 2023.
As a student-athlete, Kenley was the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year and is a two-time all-conference selection. Kenley was also named to the D2CCA first team all-region squad in 2018. During that season, Kenley went 24-5 and posted a 1.81 era in 193.2 innings pitched. The southpaw struck out 125 batters and allowed opponents to hit just .245.
For her career, Kenley went 40-16 in 85 career appearances (74 starts) and threw 382.2 innings. she struck out 258 batters in her career and had 34 complete games and seven shutouts to go along with four career saves.
Kenley was a three-time SAC commissioner’s honor roll selection.
