KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - Erin Brown, the winningest coach in the 47-year history of Truman State University softball, will be stepping down following the conclusion of the 2019 season. Brown's husband and Truman alum, Brian Brown, has accepted a position as the Troy Buchanan High School principal beginning on July 1 so Erin and her family will be relocating to Troy, Mo. this summer.

"Truman State University is a special place," said Brown. "I have enjoyed my time at Truman both as a student-athlete and the 13 years I've been a head coach. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to work with talented and gifted student-athletes as well as three valuable and driven assistant coaches. The people I have met and relationships I have built along the way are the most precious part of this journey. My focus at this time is to lead Team 47 to compete and win."

Currently in her 13th campaign at the helm for the Bulldogs, Brown owns a career record of 319-283 (.528 winning percentage), 165 wins more than the second-best mark in program history. Prior to Truman, Brown spent two seasons at Westminster College in Fulton where she took the Blue Jays from one win in 2004 to six in 2005 and 11 in her second season. Including Westminster, Brown owns an overall record of 336-316 (.515) in 15 seasons as a head coach.

Since its inception in 1973, Truman has made 16 appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament and a quarter of those have come under Brown's tutelage. The former Truman grad has led the Bulldogs to 10 20-win seasons, four campaigns with at least 30 victories and a pair with 40 or more in the win column. Brown handled the MIAA-to-GLVC transition with ease as her and the Bulldogs posted a record of 43-13 in year one of GLVC membership, just three wins off the program record set in 1999 (46-11).

"I want to thank Erin for recruiting and leading an outstanding group of student-athletes that past 13 years," said athletic director, Jerry Wollmering. "I wish her and her family well and know that Troy, Mo. is adding a great family to their community."

Brown has Truman off to a 3-0 start this season, its best as a member of the GLVC, which includes wins over Ursuline (4-0), Urbana (12-7) and Davenport (3-1). Next up, the Bulldogs will be at Central Missouri for a doubleheader on Tuesday with first pitch in game one set for 2 p.m. in Warrensburg.

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