ERIE, Pa. - Penn State Behrend Director of Athletics Brian Streeter announces Ashley Gruber as the Lions new interim softball coach on Thursday afternoon. Gruber, a former four-year standout and assistant coach for Behrend, will take over the program for the upcoming season.

"I have all of the confidence in Ashley to manage the softball program throughout the 2013-14 school year," said Streeter. "She served on staff as an assistant coach this past year and stepped up when head coach Stacy Pondo was injured. She will be working on her graduate degree while in this interim position and then will assume the assistant softball coach role next season when a new full-time coach is hired."

"I am thrilled to remain a part of Penn State Behrend athletics as the interim softball coach," said Gruber. "My experiences as an assistant coach last season and being a four-year student athlete has prepared me for new challenges ahead."

Gruber graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2012 with a B.S. in math education. While with the Lions, she was a three-time All-Conference selection and two-time Team MVP while earning AMCC Co-Player of the Year as a senior. Her final season she led the team in hits (55), doubles (16), home runs (9), RBIs (50) and batting average (.430). Gruber hit a walk-off home run in the AMCC Championship game to help the Lions reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.

She broke the program's double record and is second all-time in home runs and assists, and is third in RBIs. Gruber also received the Team Scholarship/Leadership Award and the AMCC Spring Sportsmanship Award her junior year. 

Gruber becomes the ninth softball coach at Penn State Behrend history, replacing Stacy Pondo, who stepped down to focus on her Assistant Athletic Director duties. She will be assisted by coach Bill Strub and Lindsey Baughman, who will join the staff this year as a part-time assistant.