Softball

Dick Hurley has been the head coach of the Becker College softball program since the 2013 season, and had led the program to unprecedented heights. and enters the 2020 season with an overall record of 149-121 (.551) and 93-29 (.762) in NECC league play. In his eight years with the program, he has coached 19 NECC First Team All-Conference student-athletes with one NECC Championship and NCAA appearance.

In 2020, despite only playing 12 games, Hurley's squad accomplished much on their spring break trip to Florida, with sophomore pitcher Ashley Veillette earning NECC Pitcher of the Week honors and junior shortstop Sarah Ellis picking up her 37th career double, giving her the second-most doubles in school history. Senior Samantha Buzgo was named to the NECC Sportsmanship Team. 

In 2019, Hurley's team turned in another great year, as the Hawks came back from Florida and won 17 of their next 19 games, claiming the third seed in the NECC Tournament. Senior Vasia Murphy and sophomore shortstop Sarah Ellis were voted All-NECC First Team, while senior Samantha Belenchia, senior Alyssa Columb and junior Lauren Niemann would also be voted all-conference. Murphy and freshman catcher Emily Iacovelli both broke the school record for home runs in a season, finishing with 10 each.    

2016 was the best season in the history of the program, as the Hawks won the NECC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in team history, winning a program-best 27 games and going 17-1 in conference play. Pitcher Kelsey Norberg was voted NECC Pitcher of the Year while Jennifer Van Alphen took Rookie of the Year honors. Coach Hurley himself was recognized by his peers in the conference, as he was voted Coach of the Year.

In 2013, Hurley began his head coaching tenure by leading the Hawks to a 22-15 overall record (14-4 NECC) and a second place finish.  The Hawks also received an ECAC tournament post-season bid for the first time in program history.  Several players saw major improvements in their production under Hurley’s leadership, including:  Talan Baron (NECC Player Of The Year),  Jess Wheelahan (NECC Rookie Of The Year), and Kelsey Norberg (NECC Pitcher Of The Year).

Hurley came to Becker after helping Assumption College to a Northeast-10 Championship in 2012 as an assistant coach.  Previously, Hurley was the head coach at Franklin Pierce University where he was the all-time leader in wins.  Under Hurley’s leadership at Franklin Pierce, the team achieved great success in the classroom and the program’s student-athletes were great representatives of the University on campus and the community.

Coach Hurley is a sales representative for Romanow Container and lives in Leominster Ma., with his wife Mary Ellen, has a daughter Johanna Wilson and two grandchildren Amaya and Gabriel.