Marty Gordon
Radford University has named Kevin Fagan, who is considered one of the most exciting up and coming coaches at the collegiate level, as its new softball coach.
Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg made the announcement on Monday.
“We are thrilled to announce that Kevin Fagan has agreed to become the head coach of the Radford Highlander softball program,” Lineburg said. “Throughout his career, he has consistently proven to be a champion, and we look forward to him leading our program. Kevin is truly an outstanding leader, and I am confident that our student-athletes will learn, grow and excel under his guidance.”
Fagan was an accomplished football player at the collegiate and professional level. In 1983, he was a member of the Miami Hurricanes national championship team that won the Orange Bowl. After his collegiate career, he joined the San Francisco 49ers as a defensive end and was an integral part of the defense that helped win a pair of Super Bowls.
He joins the Highlanders after spending the last four seasons with Division II Emmanuel where the Lions amassed a 121-96 record during his tenure. The Lions reached new heights in the program’s history over that span, including their most overall wins, most conference wins, first-ever conference Player of the Year and first-ever NFCA All-American. They also reached a program-high ninth in the regional rankings.
In 2022, Emmanuel broke every offensive, pitching and defensive record in school history. In his first season with Lions in 2021, Fagan led the program to their first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship, earning their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Fagan replaces Alisha Tasler, who had been head coach the past three seasons tallying a 59-86 overall record. She was initially hired in 2021 and became the school’s 10th coach in the history of the program. Fagan will be number 11.
Prior to Emmanuel, Fagan spent six seasons at the junior college level with the College of Central Florida. During his tenure, the Patriots never had a losing season. Before Fagan arrived there, the Patriots had never finished higher than fourth in their conference standings before going on to dominate the Mid-Florida Conference and the NJCAA. From 2014-2020, he coached the Patriots to several firsts, including first conference championship, first Region 8 championship, first national championship tournament appearance (2015-2nd, 2019-3rd), first national ranking in school history and first NJCAA No. 1 ranking in school history.
During Fagan’s time at the College of Central Florida, the Patriots were the most productive offensive team in the nation. They were first in Region 8 in homeruns for six consecutive years (over 100 in 2019) and consistently finished in the top-five of all offensive categories in NJCAA softball. During his tenure there, Fagan was the fastest coach to the 100, 200, and 300-win milestones. He finished there with an overall record of 355-68 boasting an impressive .839 winning percentage.
From 2009-2012, Fagan coached his daughters in travel ball on Team North Florida, where they consistently competed for a national championship. In his four years as a coach, the team won ASA Gold Nationals, Champions Cup, Colorado Independence Day Tournament and the inaugural NFCA tournament. The team placed third at the Premier National Championship in his last year as the head coach. During that time, he produced 50 scholarship players, including 14 that played in the Division 1 Women’s College World Series.
Fagan also coached his three older daughters at Dunnellon High School where they won two Florida state championships, were ESPN national champions, produced three Gatorade Players of the Year, seven all-state players and three All-Americans.
