Bethany College announces Laura Moreno as the new head softball coach, effective immediately. Head Coach Janice Esses has accepted another head coaching position at a NCAA Division II institution.
“I am extremely pleased that Laura Moreno has accepted the role of Head Softball Coach,” said Dane Pavlovich, Dean of Athletics and Student Development. “She has the experience, enthusiasm, and leadership ability to continue the excellence of the Swedes softball program. As an alumnae, she has a lot of investment in the program and I am very confident that she will provide a high-level experience for our student-athletes.”
Moreno has spent the last two seasons at Bethany College as Assistant Softball Coach, Athletics Administrative Assistant, and Athletic Communications Specialist. She will continue to provide assistance to the Athletic Communications Department.
“I am very honored, humbled, and excited to be the new head softball coach at Bethany College,” Moreno said. “I thank Coach Esses for being a great coach, mentor, and friend, and wish her the best of luck in her new position. I also want to thank Dane Pavlovich and Bethany College for giving me this opportunity. Bethany College holds a special place in my heart, and I am very proud to be a Swede! I look forward to working with our student-athletes, faculty, staff, and administration.”
In two seasons with the Swedes, Moreno assisted the squad to two consecutive 30-plus win seasons, the program’s fourth straight 30-plus win season overall. In 2015, Bethany finished as the KCAC Tournament Runner-Up and was ranked in the NAIA Top 35 in 11 offensive categories. In 2014, the Swedes placed third in the KCAC regular season, broke 14 program offensive records, and ranked in the NAIA Top 25 in 18 offensive categories. The softball program earned NAIA Scholar-Team honors in both 2014 and 2015, posting team grade point averages of 3.5 and 3.32, respectively.
Moreno spent three years (2010-2013) as head softball coach at Brown Mackie College-Salina. During her tenure, Moreno coached ten NJCAA All-Region VI selections. The 2012 squad had a 3.0 team grade point average, earning NJCAA All-Academic Team honors. Two of Moreno’s teams, 2012 and 2013, were ranked a NJCAA Top 25 offense. Her 2013 squad finished 5th in the country in hits (592), 8th in doubles (102) and total bases (801), 12th in runs batted in (324), 18th in batting average (.371), 19th in runs (340), and 23rd in stolen bases (77). In 2012, Moreno’s squad won the most games in over 11 years of the program, qualifying for the NJCAA Region Tournament. In 2013, Moreno’s team qualified for their second consecutive NJCAA Region Tournament appearance, finishing in the semifinals. While at Brown Mackie College-Salina, Moreno also recruited the most softball student-athletes in school history, represent 13 different states.
Prior to her time at Brown Mackie College-Salina, Moreno served as assistant softball coach at Bethany College for one year, and as a sports reporter and columnist for the Lindsborg News-Record.
Moreno (maiden named Christopher) was a softball player for the Swedes from 2007-2009, earning 1st Team and 2nd Team All-KCAC honors as a second baseman and designated player. On the Bethany College All-Time Softball Records (since 2006), Moreno is second in career batting average (.395). She was a two-time NAIA Academic Scholar Athlete, a member of Beta Tau Sigma Honorary Scholastic Society, and on the Academic Dean’s Honor Roll. Moreno also served as the Student Assistant Sports Information Director and the student assistant to the Director of Communications.
A native of Aurora, Colo., Moreno attended Lamar Community College, where she received her associate of arts degree before transferring to Bethany College. She graduated magna cum laude from Bethany in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. Moreno and her husband, Jose, reside in Lindsborg with their son, Mariano.
The Bethany College Swedes compete in 18 intercollegiate sports in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Bethany participates in the NAIA Champions of Character program, which encourages integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership in student-athletes, coaches, and youth in the community. Since 1902, Bethany has won 152 conference championships. Learn more about the Bethany College Swede’s athletic programs at www.bethanyswedes.com.
Written By: Tony Stennett, Sports Information Director at Bethany College
