South Colonie Central School District recently announced the anticipated appointment of Kelly Barkevich as head softball coach. With a remarkable background throughout her playing and coaching career, she not only brings a wealth of experience but a deep passion for the game.
Barkevich made her mark as a talented athlete during her high school years at Shenendehowa, where she played from 2013 to 2016. Her achievements included being named a 1st Team All-State Selection and the 2016 Suburban Council Player of the Year.
In college, Barkevich continued to excel as a student-athlete at the University at Albany from 2016 to 2021. Her dedication extended to her academic pursuits, earning her multiple selections to the America East All-Academic Team. In 2021, she was honored with a spot on the All-Championship Team and was named the 2020 America East Woman of the Year. Her college career peaked with consecutive America East Championship wins in 2017 and 2018, where she also hit an impressive 20+ home runs.
Barkevich then went on to serve as the varsity assistant coach for Colonie during the 2022 and 2023 softball seasons. Her expertise was instrumental in guiding the team to a Sectional Championship runner up finish in 2023, highlighting her ability to develop talent and instill a winning mindset. In addition to her high school coaching role, she also lent her skills to the Capital District Fusion organization from 2021 to 2022, further enriching her overall coaching experience.
“I am truly honored to be given this opportunity to lead our talented softball players at South Colonie,” said Barkevich. “This program has a long history of success, on and off the field, and I am excited to carry on that tradition for our future student athletes and the Colonie community in this new role.”
Once approved formally by the Board of Education, Barkevich will replace Sean Merchant who announced his resignation earlier this month.
“With her own softball playing career and coaching experiences, Kelly is a valuable addition to our coaching staff,” said South Colonie Athletic Director Bill Roemer. “We are confident that she will inspire and lead our student athletes to new heights and we invite the South Colonie community to join us in welcoming Kelly to her new role.”