UTM softball head coach Donley Canary hit a career milestone over the weekend, with his win over Morehead State in game two of their double-header he reached his 400th career win after 12 season with the Skyhawks.
“It means I managed to last 12 years without getting fired,” Canary joked. “When I first came here we were just happy to go out there and play and compete. We weren’t very good, but those kids laid the groundwork for something a whole lot better … We expect to win. When we go out on that field we expect to win. It’s about changing the culture of your program. “
Since taking the job as head coach he has done just that and changed the culture of UTM softball forever.
In his first season at UTM, Canary, posted a record of 25- 33, winning 14 more games than the Skyhawks did the year before. Following their turnaround UTM was named the second most improved Division I softball team in the country.
In 2009, the team won their first Ohio Valley Conference Championship and earned their first birth in the NCAA Tournament. In 2010, they captured their first regular season championship with a record of 47-11.
“We try to run a first class Division I program,” Canary said. “We expect to come in here and play and play hard. That’s what we expect out of our team.”
During his 12 years with the Skyhawks Canary has had 65 All-OVC selections. Of those, 21 were named to the All-OVC First Team with 18 being named All-OVC Second team and three recieving All- OVC Honorable Mentions. Under Canary’s guidance the Skyhawks have also had two OVC Tournament MVPs and 17 OVC All-Newcomer team members. He even has his former catcher from the 2001- 04 seasons, Sarah Davis, on staff as his assistant coach.
Canary came to UTM in 2002 after spending almost nine years working for Tennessee Tech holding various positions from director of athletic-fundraising to assistant softball coach from 2000-01. He also served a seven-year stint as assistant baseball coach for the Golden Eagles.
Canary played baseball at Tennessee Tech from 1973- 77. During his time there he was an All-OVC outfielder and after the 1976 season he was named All-South and an Academic All-American. During that season, he led the Golden Eagles with a .429 batting average, which is still third all-time in Tennessee Tech history. He also holds the top spot in Golden Eagles history for walks with 134.
“400,” Canary said. “I hope to last and get a few more, it’s just a round number. The kids, I think, were really working hard to get that for me and I think it put pressure on them, so maybe now they’ll freaking relax.”
The Skyhawks currently sit in third place in the West Division trailing Eastern Illinois and SIUE. Their next game is Wednesday April 24 when they take on Memphis. The game is set to start at 4 p.m.
