Harding Softball Coach Phil Berry to Retire at Season's End

SEARCY – Harding softball coach Phil Berry and his wife Debbie are heading home.

Berry told his staff and his team Monday that he will be retiring at the end of the season and moving back to Georgia, where he and Debbie have one grandchild and a second coming soon.

In his eighth season as head coach, Berry has a 253-163 career record since restarting the Harding softball program in 2014. Debbie has served as Harding's NCAA compliance coordinator since 2017.

"We really appreciate the Berrys," Harding athletic director Jeff Morgan said. "It has been great to watch our softball program grow under Coach Berry's leadership. Our program and Harding are better because of the positive impact they both have made."

"God led us to Harding eight-plus years ago and it has been a tremendous blessing for Debbie and me to serve Harding in the athletics department and in the restarting of the softball program," Berry said. "Harding will always hold a very special place in our hearts. I want to thank Greg Harnden and Jeff Morgan for their leadership and guidance and the athletics department staff, fellow coaches, assistant coaches, graduate assistants, athletic trainers, student managers and players for making this such a memorable journey."

Berry's team is in the midst of its sixth winning season with a record of 24-11. In 2017, Berry's Lady Bisons compiled a 58-9 record, won the GAC regular season and tournament championships, the Central Region 1 tournament championship and concluded the season ranked ninth in Division II. Berry received GAC Coach of the Year. Four other Harding teams won more than 30 games.

"As Debbie and I return to Georgia and venture into retirement, grandkids and other adventures, we cannot wait to see what the future holds for Harding, Harding athletics and Harding softball," Berry said. "It has truly been 'Great to be at Harding.'"

"Our program is in a great place, and we will immediately begin our search for a new coach to lead our team," Morgan said.

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