Chowan University Athletics

Brian De Witt enters his fifth season as head coach of the Chowan softball team after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach.

In 2018, De Witt helped lead the Hawks to their second straight NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament appearance after claiming their fourth CIAA Tournament Title.  Chowan posted a 31-16 overall record and capped off a perfect 16-0 mark in the CIAA.  His efforts allowed De Witt to be named CIAA Coach of the Year.  Eight members of the team were named All-CIAA selections including Kris Neal (CIAA Player of the Year), Shannon Buchanan (CIAA Pitcher of the Year), and Beth Walker (CIAA Rookie of the Year).

De Witt notched his 100th win at Chowan on March 11, 2018 in a 9-1 victory over Edinboro.

During the 2017 season, De Witt led the Hawks to their third NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament appearance and received the automatic berth winning their third CIAA Tournament Title.  Chowan finished the season with a 36-20 record and a 14-2 mark in the CIAA Northern Division on their way to their third straight division title.  The Hawks took home all three player honors from the CIAA as Danielle Baccus won CIAA Player of the Year, Brittany Parson was named CIAA Rookie of the Year, and Kayla Robins secured CIAA Pitcher of the Year honors.  Chowan racked up nine All-CIAA selections including six on the First Team ballot.

De Witt helped Kayla Robins turn in a stellar senior season as Robins earned numerous postseason awards such as: NFCA All-Region, D2CCA All-Region, NCCSIA All-State, as well as, D2CCA All-American.  Robins finished first in the nation in K/7 with 12.04 along with the third most strikeouts (367), third best ERA (0.95), and second in shutouts (16).

In the 2016 season, De Witt led the Hawks to their second consecutive CIAA Northern Division Championship title and a runner-up finish in the CIAA Conference Championship.  Chowan finished the season with a 29-14 overall record and an unblemished 14-0 conference record.   De Witt produced the CIAA Player of the Year, Kayla Robins, and CIAA Rookie of the Year, Haley Cooper. For the team’s success, DeWitt was named CIAA Coach of the Year.  The Hawks had five players earn All-CIAA First Team honors, two All-CIAA Second Team honors, three CIAA All-Tournament Team honors and one player earning All-Rookie honors.

In his first season at the helm, the Hawks earned a 26-14 overall record and a 15-1 record in conference play. Chowan won the CIAA Northern Division crown. CU had multiple players earn accolades, including one All-CIAA First Team honor, six All-CIAA Second Team honors, one All-Rookie Team honor, three CIAA All-Tournament Team honors, one Daktronics/Division II CCA Softball All-Atlantic Region Second Team honor, and two NCCSIA All-State Softball Team honors. In addition, the team earned the highest GPA among all CIAA softball teams and had one player earn CIAA Commissioners All-Academic Team honors.  

Prior to being named head coach, De Witt served three years as an assistant coach for the Hawks where he worked primarily with the pitchers and catchers.

Before coming to Chowan, De Witt was the head softball coach at Kalamazoo College, where he stayed for two seasons. 

He became the head softball coach at Highland Community College where he turned around a struggling program and won 45 games in his three seasons as skipper.  In 2004, De Witt became the first-ever softball coach at Louisiana State University-Eunice.  He led the Lady Bengals to a 21-19 record, including a national ranking, in their first season of competition.

De Witt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  During his time there, he was a member of an ASA National Softball Team. Upon graduation, he took a high school teaching position in Tomah, Wisc., where he was also the head softball coach for five seasons. 

He resides in Murfreesboro, N.C.