Brian Daley named AAMU's new head softball coach

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama A&M University Director of Athletics Paul A. Bryant announced on Monday the addition of Brian Daley as the new Bulldogs head softball coach.
 
"Bringing in a coach with a championship pedigree as Coach Daley will change the team's mindset as we work towards advancing to the NCAA tournament," Bryant said.
 
Daley comes to Alabama A&M after three separate stints at Edward Waters University, most recently serving as an assistant coach last season.
 
"I am extremely honored to have been chosen to lead the Alabama A&M softball team into this next chapter," Daley said. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Paul A. Bryant and Director for Business/SWA Abiola Wilson-Brigmon for their belief in me and their commitment to the success of the AAMU softball program. I'm excited to get to work and build on the tradition of excellence.
 
"The rich tradition of AAMU, its commitment to academic excellence and innovation, along with a holistic and compassionate approach to education as a HBCU institution of Higher Education. AAMU created an exceptional environment to both coach at and recruit to. I look forward to continuing to build the softball program to national prominence with elite student-athletes of the highest character and academic dedication. 'LET'S GO!  DOMINATE THE DAY!'"
 
Before returning to Edward Waters in 2024, Daley had a brief stint at Bethany College, serving one season as the head coach.
 
In his second stint at Edward Waters, Daley guided the Lady Tigers to a historic campaign in 2022, where he led the program to a 32-11 overall record, the second-best record in the modern era of the program. The team was named 2022 NAIA Division HBCU Softball National Champions by the Black College Sports Network. 
 
In his return to the program at EWU in 2021, Daley led Edward Waters to a 19-11 record and came to within one game of leading the Lady Tigers to their third appearance at the NAIA National Softball Tournament. Under Daley's leadership in 2021, freshman pitcher Milani Sablan became the first Lady Tiger in the modern era to record a perfect game, and became the first player to record 100+ strikeouts in a season. Sablan and Ivey Moreland received All-Conference honors, as well as HBCU Softball All-American nods.
 
Daley went back to Edward Waters last season after a brief stint as the head coach at Penn State-Greater Allegheny in 2019.
 
In Daley's first stint as head coach, the Beloit, Ohio, native led the Lady Tigers to an 18-22 mark and was one game shy of qualifying for the NAIA Opening Round for what would have been the second consecutive season.
 
As an assistant in 2017 under former head coach and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Stanley Cromartie, Daley helped guide the Lady Tigers to 27 wins. The Lady Tigers finished as a runner-up in the Association of Independent Institutions Softball Championships, and the program's first-ever appearance in the NAIA Softball Opening Round. Under his guidance, the Edward Waters Softball team raised its team batting average by over 90 points from the 2015 season. 
 
Prior to his first tour at Edward Waters, Daley was the varsity head softball coach at Nathan B. Forrest/Westside High School from 2013 to 2015, where he led the Lady Rebels/Lady Wolverines to 36 wins.
 
In addition to coaching at the high school level, Daley has coached with Jacksonville Storm and Pittsburgh Spirit fast pitch organizations. Daley is also a member of the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association.