Kyler inducted into CSU Athletic Hall of Fame
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame Softball Head Coach Amy Kyler was honored by her alma mater Saturday, as Cleveland State inducted her into it's Athletic Hall of Fame. The Falcons' first-year coach was honored among three other administrators and athletes inducted between women's and men's basketball games at CSU's Wolstein Center. It was CSU's 33rd class so honored, brining the Hall of Fame rolls to 112 individuals.

"It's a great honor, and I'm proud to be a part of the Hall of Fame at Cleveland State," said Kyler, who became the ninth head coach in NDC Softball history in August, 2007. "Playing both softball and volleyball for the school enabled me to develop great relationships with administrators and student-athletes."

Kyler played Softball and Volleyball for the Vikings from 1994-97. She is regarded as
the most dominent pitcher in CSU softball history, owning school career records for wins (68), winning percentage (68-41, .624), earned run average (1.35), innings pitched (728.1), strikeouts (909) and appearances (121). A native of Clinton, Ohio, Kyler saved her best season for last, earning Midwestern Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year honors as a senior in 1997 after setting CSU season records for wins (24), ERA (0.56), games started (27), appearances (33), shutouts (15), strikeouts (325) and innings pitched (210.2). She helped the Vikings to a 36-11 record, which earned the program its only NCAA Tournament bid.

A standout in volleyball as well, Kyler was named the Varsity “C” Club Player of the Year as a junior in 1994. After graduating cum laude in 1997 with a degree in social work and psychology, she served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green (1998-01) before returning to CSU as an assistant coach from 2002-05. Kyler then went to Purdue, where she served as an Assistant Coach for the Boilermakers the last two seasons (2006-07). 

Kyler, whose Notre Dame Falcons swing into their season Feb. 26 at the Smash Hit Tournament in Savannah, Ga., views her playing days as the impetus for her coaching career. "The people around me at CSU pushed me to reach my potential," said Kyler. They helped me discover what I wanted to do after college."

After finishing her playing career at Cleveland State, Kyler pitched professionally in both the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league and the Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL).  She was a member of the Carolina Diamonds (WPSL) in 1997 and 1998, posting a 16-16 record with a 2.42 ERA in 219.1 inning pitched.

In 1999 and 2000, Kyler played for the Akron Racers, helping the team advance to the WPSL Championship semifinal in 1999. She posted a 7-7 record with a 1.97 ERA that season.

She was a member of an NPF All-Star touring team in 2003, played for the California Sunbirds in 2004, and played for the Akron Racers in their 2005 NPF championship season. While in the professional ranks, Kyler was named to WPSL or NPF All-Star team five times (1998-2001, 2003).

The Falcons' first-year head coach brings those talents to College Road in 2008, where she takes the helm of a program that has posted a record of 65-20 (.765 winning pct.) over the past two seasons (2006-07).  NDC has earned berths in the NAIA Regional Tournament (Region IX-Great Lakes East) each of the last two seasons and were 33-11 in 2007.

"Everything that happened at CSU has really gotten me to where I am now," said Kyler, reflecting on her current opportunity at Notre Dame. "After my experience with CSU, I realized coaching would become my life."

Notre Dame College is a co-educational liberal arts institution in South Euclid, Ohio. The Notre Dame Athletics Department sponsors the Falcons' participation in 17 men's and women's sports. The College is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the American Mideast Conference (AMC), which is the largest NAIA conference in the country.

# # # # # FALCONS # # # # #