DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University is pleased to announce that 2012 graduate Maggie Kichler of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania has been named the new head softball coach of the Aggies. She replaces Corey Heulitt, who resigned after three years at the helm to return to school for physical therapy.
 
"It's great to be back and coaching at my alma mater," Kichler said. "I take pride in trying to boost the DelVal softball name and look to take them back to the conference playoffs with the ultimate goal of winning a championship."
 
Kichler was a pitcher for DelVal from 2009 to 2011 and recorded 10 wins, 110 strikeouts and a 3.60 earned run average (ERA) in 208 innings of work. As a freshman, she helped the Aggies qualify for the Freedom Conference playoffs as she pitched in 19 games (14 starts) and went 5-6 with a 3.17 ERA. She started the first game of the double-elimination tournament and gave up two earned runs in four-plus innings, en route to a non-decision in the loss. Kichler then came out of the bullpen in a game two setback.
 
Kichler started 11 of the 14 games she pitched in during the 2010 season and won four games with a career-high 42 strikeouts and a 3.75 ERA. She followed the next year with 14 appearances (nine starts), one win, 34 Ks and a 4.07 ERA.
 
After graduating from DelVal with a bachelor of science degree in business administration (sports management concentration), Kichler became an assistant coach and pitching coach at Division II West Chester University. The Rams produced three of the greatest seasons in program history as they notched a 119-59 record and reached the NCAA playoffs each year.
 
The run began in 2013 when West Chester went 37-21 and reached the NCAA Division II Super Regionals for the first time in school history. The Rams' staff received the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year award.
 
In 2014, Kichler and West Chester posted a 42-22 record, captured both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division title and the NCAA Super Regionals, and reached the NCAA Division II national championships for the first time. They repeated as the NFCA Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
The Rams reached the 40-win mark again in 2015 as they finished 40-16 with a PSAC Eastern Division crown and another berth in the NCAA tournament. Kichler recruited and coached the 2015 PSAC Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.
 
Following her three-year run with West Chester, Kichler was the director of softball at Maplezone Sports Institute for one year. She has also served as an independent softball coach and consultant.
 
"We are excited that Maggie has returned to her alma mater to take over the softball program," director of athletics Steve Cantrell said. "She had great success as an assistant and a recruiter at West Chester and we are confident that she can do the same for us as a head coach."
 
Kichler, who will be a part-time coach at DelVal, takes over a young Aggie squad that finished with a 15-16 overall record, the most wins since 2010. In Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play where they were picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll, the team, instead, went 6-8 and was fifth in the standings.