Certainly not Keene State Coach Dr. Charlie Beach. After leading his young KSC women's softball team to an unexpected second consecutive Little East Tournament Championship and NCAA berth last year, the Owls' coach, now in his 16th year, would like nothing better than to make it three in a row this spring. While success is nothing new to the program, the fact the Owls were able to overcome difficult odds to repeat as LEC Champions was a source of pride for Beach. And typically, Beach deflected the praise back on his players. In a reversal of roles this season, Beach now finds himself directing the front-runners in the Conference.
Every year brings about different challenges.
No stranger to facing challenges, the Rochester, N.H. native took over the KSC softball program in 1986 and, starting almost from scratch, built an Owl team that became a contender in the competitive New England Collegiate Conference and a legitimate regional power. The Owls have posted seasons with more than 20 wins in nine of the past 12 years, captured ECAC championships in 1990 and 1993 and a first-ever NECC championship and NCAA regional tournament appearance in 1994. Guiding KSC through a smooth transition into Division III and the Little East, Beach has made sure that the Owls have continued their winning ways. They're the ones that made the program what it has become. He is a former physical conditioning consultant for the Chicago White Sox and has coached a wide variety of sports, including football, baseball, and track and field.