WEST HARTFORD, Conn. —University of Hartford Acting Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Acting Vice President Dr. Sharon Beverly announced that Don Justus has been named interim head coach of the Hawks' softball team on Friday. Justus has spent the past two seasons with the Hawks, joining the coaching staff as an assistant prior to the 2020 campaign.   
 
In Justus' first year in West Hartford in 2020, Hartford was off to a 6-4 start before the season came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This past season, the Hawks posted a 6-13 record.
 
"We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Justus agree to lead our softball program this year," said Dr. Beverly. "He brings a wealth of successful experience and knows our Hartford program well. Our team will be in good hands"
 
Justus, who has been heavily involved in Hartford's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in each of the past two years, has also had a positive impact on the Hawks' success in the classroom. With each of its 24 student-athletes posting at least a 3.0 GPA — including four perfect 4.0 marks — the softball team combined for an impressive 3.73 GPA in the 2020-21 academic year.
 
"I have great admiration for our players, and what they have accomplished both on the field and in the classroom" said Justus. "I look forward to providing them with my continued support."
 
Justus has more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, previously serving as an assistant coach at Kutztown University and Iona College before arriving at Hartford.
 
At Kutztown, Justus worked alongside Judy Lawes, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division II history, for 10 seasons from 2010-19. He led Kutztown to 332 victories — including a program record 52 wins (52-7) in 2012 — and helped the Golden Bears qualify for six NCAA Division II Tournaments during his tenure. 
 
Justus, who spent the 2004-05 academic year as an assistant to Lawes at Kutztown, returned to Golden Bears following two seasons as an assistant at Iona in 2008 and 2009. He oversaw a pitching staff that featured the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's (MAAC) Rookie of the Year.
 
Justus takes over at the helm of the Hartford softball team after former head coach Angie Churchill recently accepted the head coaching position at Seton Hall. Churchill, who spent four seasons at the helm of the Hawks, led the team to 42 victories during her tenure, including the program's first 20-plus win season (20-31) since 2013 in the 2019 campaign.
 
A member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, the PONY Softball National Tournament's Staff and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as a Three Star Master Coach, Justus graduated from Columbia Southern University with a bachelor's degree in business sports management.