NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Elaine Schwager, former head softball and volleyball coach at Suffolk University, has been named the head softball coach at Merrimack College, it was announced by Merrimack Athletic Director Sean T. Frazier. Schwager replaces Stacey Sullivan, who left Merrimack to take a job as the head softball coach at the University of Maine Orono.

?Elaine?s passion for collegiate athletics and her coaching experience make her a great choice as Merrimack?s softball coach,? said Frazier. ?We are excited to have Elaine join us and look forward to continued success from our softball program.?

Schwager was the head softball coach at Suffolk for five years, leading the team to two ECAC New England post-season tournaments. She was 100-82 over five seasons and was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005. Also the head volleyball coach for two years, Schwager helped lead the Rams to GNAC Tournament appearances in both seasons.

Prior to her tenure at Suffolk, Schwager was the head softball coach at Regis College for two years and spent two years as the head softball coach of the Croatian National Softball Team. Schwager also had stints as an assistant coach at Boston University and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

Schwager inherits a team which finished 20-22 in 2005, earning a spot in the Northeast-10 Tournament. Merrimack has won 11 regular season Northeast-10 titles, eight Norhteast-10 Tournaments, and the 1994 NCAA Division II championship.