Stockton head softball coach Val Julien was inducted into ASA Hall of Fame

Stockton head softball coach Val Julien was inducted into the New Jersey Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame on January 20. Julien was one of seven inductees in a class highlighted by two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith. \”I want to thank the ASA committee. I am truly honored to be here with the other inductees,\” Julien said in her induction speech. \”I have played and coached with some of the finest people on earth.\”

Julien was recognized for over 25 years of amateur softball in New Jersey as both a player and coach. She served as the head coach of the New Jersey Divas from 2000-05, a stint that reached its pinnacle when the Divas won the ASA Women\’s Under-23 national championship in 2003. Fellow New Jersey ASA Hall of Famer Linda Lensch has coached with Julien on the Divas and at Stockton. \”Val has honed her craft over the years,\” Lensch said. \”She\’s an excellent recruiter, an excellent coach and an excellent human being.\”

Prior to joining the Divas, Julien spent two seasons as an assistant and then 13 years as head coach of the South Jersey/New Jersey Rebels, during which the Rebels were one of the top women\’s Class A teams in the state. As a player, Julien competed in four national tournaments as a pitcher for the Montclair 81\’s, earning ASA First Team All-America honors after leading the 81\’s to the 1981 national championship.

Julien is entering her 22nd season as the head coach at Stockton. She has won 335 games and led the Ospreys to five ECAC tournament appearances. Julien coached the Ospreys to a then-school record 23 wins in 2003 and later topped the mark with 25 victories in 2005. Stockton has won at least 23 games in four of the last five seasons. Julien collected her 300th win at Stockton on April 1, 2006 with a 14-2 victory over New Jersey City.