MSU SOFTBALL: Jacquie Joseph completes coaching staff
Jacquie Joseph has completed her staff for the 2018-19 season with the appointment of Bruce Lenington as the program's volunteer assistant coach. Lenington brings a long, storied career of nearly 30 years of head coaching experience at the high school, national travel ball, and NAIA levels to the position at Michigan State.
"I am super excited to have our full staff in place to start the new season," notes Jacquie Joseph, who's team began individual player sessions this week. "Bruce has tremendous experience in all phases of the game and I am certain he will make a positive impact in our program. We get to start fall ball with all four coaches in place to help our athletes continue to advance all aspects of their game."
Most recently, Lenington was an assistant coach at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Under first-year head coach Joe DiPietro, UIW made a four-game improvement in the Southland Conference standings from the previous season. In 2016, Lenington, a native of the Detroit metro area, was hired as an assistant to help lead NAIA Lawrence Tech University in their inaugural season. The Blue Devils became the first LTU program to reach the post season conference tournament in their first year of existence.
Lenington also served as the head coach at Novi High School, and led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory. Prior to his hiring in 2013, Novi's last winning season was in 2001. After his hiring, the Wildcats enjoyed four consecutive winning seasons, including conference and district championships in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
He also owned and operated the Michigan Lookouts, travel softball training and recruitment service, from 2011-2017, where he assisted over 60 student-athletes realize their dreams of playing college softball. Among his program alumni are recent MSU graduates Ellie Stoffer and Sarah Gutknecht, both four-year letterwinners in the Spartan softball program. In 2013, his 18U team finished in the top 10 at the ASA "A" National Tournament, in Salem, Virginia, which was one of the best finishes for any Michigan team prior to that time. Lenington also holds camps and clinics around the country for players at all levels including youth and college athletes.
Lenington began his coaching career at the high school level in Filer, Idaho, in 1992, where his teams made several final four finishes and won the 1995 State Championship.
In 2001, Lenington coached at Southfield-Lathrup High School, Southfield, MI, and led them to four conference titles in seven years. A veteran Michigan educator, coach and athletic director, Lenington retired to pursue the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level in 2017.
Lenington has three college-age children: daughters Jordan and Ashley, both college softball players, and a son Conner.
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