June 26, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - University of Virginia head softball coach Karen Johns has announced the hiring of Brandon Duncan as an assistant coach. Duncan comes to Virginia after two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech. Duncan replaces Iyhia McMichael who resigned in May.

Duncan served as Georgia Tech's pitching and catching coach the last two seasons and helped guide the Yellow Jackets to an 89-36 record during that time, including two NCAA Regionals appearances. Georgia Tech won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2005. In addition to being responsible for the development of Georgia Tech's pitchers and catchers, Duncan was heavily involved in recruiting, game preparation, coordinating team travel, and scouting of opponents. He was also responsible for camp administration as well as starting Georgia Tech's softball booster club.

"We are so happy to have Brandon join our UVA family," said Johns. "I've known Brandon for quite some time and coached with him before. His knowledge of and passion for the game of softball will be a big benefit to our team."

Johns first coached with Duncan at the University of Alabama in 2000. Duncan was a student manager assisting with the daily operations of the Alabama softball program while Johns was the Crimson Tides' top assistant coach. Duncan graduated from Alabama in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in English.

"I have a huge amount of respect for Karen Johns and I'm thrilled to be a member of her staff at Virginia," said Duncan. "To be able to continue my coaching career at a school with a rich tradition like UVa is an honor. Both coach Johns and assistant coach Carie Dever-Boaz are household names in the sport of softball and I look forward to working with them at Virginia."

The Abbeville, S.C., native also played men's fastpitch softball. In 2001, Duncan toured Asia with "The King and His Court" (four-man softball team) and was the team's featured pitcher. He was a pitcher for the Spartanburg Stars from 1996-2004 and helped lead the team to three NSA World Series appearances.