Strike up the music and play it loud and clear! After being away from Lee for 18 years, where she enjoyed a hall of fame softball career, Kelly Golden-Neer will return to the Lady Flames as an assistant coach under her former head coach Emily Russell.
“I am thoroughly excited to have Kelly on staff. She was a game-changing player for us when she played and I feel the same way about her joining the staff,” commented the veteran Lee coach. “She has a wealth of connections and experiences that will benefit the program immediately.
She is a relational coach that can elevate those around her. I know the players are going to love working with her.”
During her two-year career at Lee (2005-06) Golden-Neer helped the Lady Flames post a 96-28 record. She was twice name NAIA All-SSAC, All-Region XIII and 2nd Team NAIA All-American. In 2006 she scored 52 runs and had 61 runs batted in in 69 games; had a .425 batting average; and finished her career with 27 career home runs. The 2006 team advanced to Final 8 of NAIA National Tournament for first time.
Said Golden-Neer, “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to return! Lee has always felt like family and home when I visit. Coach Russell has always been a special mentor in my life. I cannot wait to learn from her and experience Division II level (play)!
“My husband (Jeremy) and I were looking to move north, and I always loved the Cleveland area. I have stayed connected with Coach Russell and have always wanted to make my way back to Lee. Everything has aligned for us to make the move,” she proudly confessed. She has two stepchildren, Grace, and Gavin.
Golden-Neer noted that both her and her husband were born and raised in the Orlando, Fla. area. “He currently owns a septic company, so he will be taking some time to work all the details out involving the selling process. We will also have to sell our house so he will probably stay in Florida for a little bit longer than me,” Golden-Neer explained. “He will enjoy the country and mountains of Tennessee; he is a big outdoorsman, and we want to live a simpler life than all the hustle and bustle that is here in Florida.”
Lee’s new assistant softball coach leaves Montverde Academy, a prestigious private school, where she was currently serving as golf coach but for four years was the assistant softball coach under the legendary athlete Dot Richardson and from 2015-17 was the head coach at Montverde Academy, winning four district titles, three regionals and making two appearances in the state finals.
Fresh out of college Golden-Neer was the head softball coach at Lake-Sumter Community College (Leesburg, Fla.) 2007 – 2011. The team had the first ever winning season in her third year in the school’s history, and she took the team to its first ever NJCAA State Tournament appearance.
During the same period (2006-2009) she was working with Professional Fastpitch Xtreme Tour as the Activities Coordinator. Golden-Neer was also involved with Dot Richardson and Olympians, trying to get a professional tour started. They travelled around the country, going to tournaments, holding exhibition games/clinics and autograph sessions.
Golden-Neer was asked what strong points she would bring to the Lady Flames? “I love the defensive side and strategy of the game! But being a head coach for many years, I have covered it all with hitting, infield/outfield and defense. So hopefully, I can help in all aspects of the game.”
She added, “I would like to thank Coach (Athletic Director John) Maupin and Coach Russell for allowing me to be a part of the Lee University family once again. I am very excited to come back to a place that gave me so much as a student-athlete and be able to return that from the coaching side to the players. I know that great things are to come with the softball program, and I am honored to be a part of it.”