John Byrne ’82 - New Moravian Hall of Fame Inductee
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- John Byrne ’82, the winningest softball coach in program history, is being inducted into the Moravian University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 25 in Johnston Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- John Byrne '82, the winningest softball coach in program history, is being inducted into the Moravian University Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 25 in Johnston Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Byrne, who graduated in 1982, had an outstanding career as the Head Coach of the Moravian softball program for 29 seasons. Byrne retired in 2022 after posting an overall record of 923-257, 27 postseason appearances including three NCAA Division III Championships appearances with the program playing for the national championship in 2004, 18 NCAA Division III playoff berths, 25 conference playoff appearances and 17 conference championships during his tenure.
He posted a 46-39 record in NCAA Tournament action. Byrne and his staff were named the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, and Byrne and his staff were named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Byrne was the Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year four times, and he was the ECAC Division III South Coach of the Year in 2016.
Byrne was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in December 2023 during the organization's 40th Anniversary convention. A four-year starter on the baseball team, Byrne was an assistant baseball coach from 1983 to 1992, and he served as head volleyball coach in 1988 while leading the Hounds to a 24-16 record and assistant football coach from 1989 to 1997. He served as Athletic Recruiting Coordinator from 1985 to 1998, and Byrne also served as Associate Athletics Director for the Greyhounds.
Byrne was associate head coach of the Philadelphia Force in the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2007 and worked as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds.
Byrne is being joined by softball player Jenna Carmon Hegarty '12; long jump national champion Joe Moore '04; men's soccer standout Bruce Morris '89; record breaking kicker Brian Reckenbeil '09; football player Jon Van Valkenburg '77 and baseball and football standout Paul Woodling '94 in the class of 2024 being inducted Moravian Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2010 softball squad will also be honored on Friday, October 25 in Johnston Hall as part of Moravian's Homecoming Weekend.
Online registration for the 2024 Moravian University Hall of Fame Ceremony closes on October 16 and is available at https://moravian.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/109.
