Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Ashley Lokey named head coach of Edmonds CC softball

LYNNWOOD – Ashley Lokey has been selected as Edmonds CC’s new head softball coach and assumes the position immediately. 
Lokey spent the last two years as an assistant at NCAA DI Seattle University, helping the Redhawks to their first NCAA Regional appearance in the program’s history. Seattle U was 73-40 in her two years there, which included the school’s first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season and tournament title this spring. Seattle U notched 40 wins (school record) in 2019 and was the first WAC program to win an NCAA tournament game since 2015. Lokey helped with recruiting, coached first base, worked primarily with the team’s lefty slap hitters and outfielders, and organized camps. 
Lokey has previous head-coaching experience at the community college level. She coached at Chabot College, a two-year school in the California Community College Athletic Association, in Hayward, Calif. for four years (2013-2017). Lokey rebuilt the program and in 2015-16 the Gladiators were 26-11. She coached two All-Nor Cal players and eight 1st-Team All-North Coast Conference players and established a track record of academic success with a student-first philosophy. Lokey was also a part-time faculty member at Chabot.   
“Ashley comes highly recommended to us and is the right person to lead Triton softball,” said athletic director Spencer Stark. “If you look at her coaching path, she’s already cut her teeth as a young head coach and her recent experience at Seattle U will help her at Edmonds. I know the team is excited about Ashley and we are thrilled to add her to our coaching staff.”
Ashley Lokey
Lokey is from Eugene, Ore. and graduated from Elmira High School. She started her playing career at Mt. Hood Community College, learning from five-time NWAC championship head coach Meadow McWhorter, who is now the skipper at NCAA DI Portland State University. While at Mt. Hood she was part of McWhorter's first championship team in 2009 and was a two-time selection to the NWAC All-Tournament Team. Lokey garnered NWAC South all-league honors both years and was a NFCA NWAC All-American in 2009. She transferred to NCAA DII Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Calif. and holds the school's record for highest batting average (.437), slugging percentage (.668), and on-base percentage (.528). While at Academy of Art Lokey was PacWest Academic All-Conference (2011, 2012), All-PacWest 1st Team (2010, 2012), and NFCA All-Region 2nd Team (2010). She earned nine Player of the Week honors, and three PacWest Weekly Top 10 selections.
“I’m super excited to come into the NWAC as the new head coach for Edmonds softball. As a former student-athlete in the NWAC, I have a unique understanding of playing at the community college level and moving on to play at a four-year university,” said Lokey. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build upon the expectations and foundation that Edmonds softball has created. I am eager to work with the team and look forward to building champions in academics, athletics, community, and in life.”
Lokey earned her Bachelor’s degree from Academy of Art, majoring in Multimedia Communications and later obtained her Master’s in Sport and Health Science from American Public University. 
This year interim head coach Chuck Stark guided the Tritons to a 41-10 season and an appearance in the NWAC championship game one year after former head coach Sheryl Gilmore led the team to a record-setting 2018 season in which the Tritons finished 42-8, captured the North Region title for the first time since 1998, and placed third overall at the NWAC Tournament. Gilmore is now the head coach at NCAA DII Western Washington University. 
Edmonds has seven returning sophomores, many of whom filled large roles on the squad in 2019. Freshmen Prestyne Kaimi-Montira and Ciena Kauhi were named to the NFCA All-American team, and returners Staisa Micky, Cecilia Robbins, Rhilmina Sagapolutele and Liliola Vehikite were all NWAC North Region All-Stars. Softball starts their fall season in early September.

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