Salem, Va. --- Mike Mitchell has named four assistants to his staff in his first season as head coach of the Maroons' softball program. Loren Messick,Russell Gaddy, Rick Anderson and Barry Wood will join Mitchell at Roanoke this fall. Anderson will be a volunteer assistant this spring.

Gaddy and Wood both were assistants for the Maroons for three seasons (2003-05). In two seasons, they helped guide the program to the 2004 and 2005 ODAC Titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Both bring tremendous coaching experience to the program.

Gaddy, who will focus his attention on the Maroon outfielders, is a 1981 Winthrop (NC) graduate where he helped the Eagles reach the NAIA national championship contest. He has been a softball coach on various levels over the past seven seasons and was a high school baseball coach in the 1980s.

Wood has been a youth coach in the Roanoke Valley for the past 27 years, the last 19 of which he has been involved with softball.  He was one of the founders and original coaches of the ASA Scrappers, which over the years has helped develop some of the top softball talent to come out of the area.  Wood will serve as the Maroon hitting coach this season.

Messick, who graduated in May, begins her transition from player to coach after completing a successful college career with the Maroons' softball program. She was a captain during her last two years, displaying her valuable leadership skills as a vocal leader, but displayed it on the field as well. A mainstay in the starting lineup in all four years with the team, Messick holds the school-record in sacrifice hits. She is ranked among the top-10 all-time in batting (5^th), hits (7^th), runs scored (7^th) and assists (5^th). She was a three-time All-ODAC selection and a two-time VaSID All-State performer.

The Maroons finished 28-10, 13-5 in the ODAC for their 11^th-straight 25-win season in the 12-year history of the program. The season was highlighted by a 17-game win streak, which was the third longest in school history.