May 21, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - University of Virginia Athletics Director Craig Littlepage today announced the resignation of head softball coach Cheryl Sprangel effective May 31. "Cheryl Sprangel has won a lot of games and developed some fine student-athletes and teams during here stint as our head coach. She leaves having provided a great foundation for the future success of the softball program."

"The sport of softball has been very good to me for 30 years, but I am at that point in my life where I see other avenues that I want to pursue and family matters that I want to attend to," said Sprangel. "I feel that I am leaving the Virginia softball program in a very strong state with great players who are also terrific people and true student-athletes. The team should be able to achieve great success next year and I wish them well. I want to thank Craig Littlepage for the opportunity to coach at such a great institution as well as all my true supporters throughout the years. I also want to thank all my great assistant coaches that have been so loyal and truly awesome to work with."

In eight seasons at the helm of the Virginia softball program, Sprangel posted a 303-215 record and is the winningest coach in UVa softball history. She compiled six winning seasons, including a school record 52 victories in 2001. The Cavaliers advanced to the championship game of the ACC Tournament four times during Sprangel's tenure. In ACC regular season play, UVa was 34-40 the past eight seasons. Sprangel came to Virginia in August of 1997 after having served as the head coach at Toledo University for 14 seasons. She compiled a 460-355-1 record for the Rockets and was one of nine inductees into the University of Toledo's Varsity "T" Hall of Fame in 2004.

In 22 seasons as a head coach, Sprangel has a career coaching record of 763-570-1 (.572 winning percentage). She is 18th among active Division I coaches with her 763 career victories and 22nd all-time. She earned her 750th career win on April 20, 2005 in UVa's 6-2 win over Liberty in the second game of a doubleheader. Sprangel captured her 300th career win at Virginia on April 30 when the Cavaliers won 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader against Virginia Tech.

Seven different players have earned All-Region honors under Sprangel's tutelage at Virginia and two went on to capture All-America accolades. In addition, five players Sprangel coached were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Softball Team in September of 2002. Virginia has had 22 All-ACC selections under Sprangel's guidance, including a school-record tying four this season. Sprangel has been selected as the Virginia Sports Information Director's All-State Coach of the Year three times, including in 2003 and 2004.

Virginia finished the 2005 season with a 31-32 overall record and a 9-8 mark in the conference, good for third place. The Cavaliers also finished third in the ACC Tournament with a 2-2 record.