July 1, 2009

Harry Sauter, the winningest head coach in UMass Lowell softball history, will retire after 15 years with the River Hawks, Director of Athletics Dana Skinner announced.

Sauter, who compiled a 367-330-4 record which included NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003, 2006 and 2007, is expected to remain as an assistant coach with the program for the 2010 season.

“It was a great 15 years,” Sauter said. “It was either retire now or retire next year and I felt that this was the time to do it. There are a lot of young kids on the team and I am looking forward to remaining with the program.

“It was a tough decision, but sometimes you have to do what’s best for the program and this is what’s best,” he added. “The kids were good with my decision.”

Over the last 11 seasons, Sauter led the River Hawks to an average of 26.3 wins per season, and enjoyed perhaps his best year in 2007 when he guided the team to a 30-22 clip, the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship and the NCAA Tournament Northeast Region semifinal round.

He helped the River Hawks to 30-win seasons four times – 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2007 – including a school-record 34 victories in 2006 (34-22).

Sauter was named the NE-10 Coach of the Year in 2005 as he led the River Hawks to a 27-11 record and a 23-5 clip in the NE-10, pitting the River Hawks second.

During UMass Lowell’s nine-year tenure in the NE-10, Sauter helped guide 35 players to All-Conference status.

With 10 newcomers and five sophomores last season, UMass Lowell struggled to a 10-31-1 overall clip and a 9-18-1 showing in the NE-10. The River Hawks will return 17 of 18 players from the 2009 squad.

A native of Miami, FL, Sauter and his wife Lorna reside in Nashua, NH and Celebration, FL.