Hokie ClubBOWIE, Md. – Head coach Pete D’Amour will be inducted into the Greater Washington Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame, the organization announced.
The ceremony will take place between Virginia Tech’s fall ball games against George Mason at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Va. on Oct. 18. The first game begins at noon.
D’Amour, who is honored for his play in the men's division with multiple national and world tournament appearances, will also be recognized for his successful coaching career.
“My introduction to softball happened in and around the Metro DC area as a four-year-old kid,” D’Amour said. “Hanging around the softball fields and traveling with my dad and his teammates are core memories for me. Many of the players I looked up to in my childhood are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and it’s surreal to be included with them.
“There isn’t adequate space to thank everyone that has been involved with my softball journey thus far. The Hall of Fame induction isn’t possible without the support of mentors, support staffs, administrators, fans, friends, and all the assistant and head coaches I’ve worked with. There is also a deep appreciation for all the players that I’ve coached since the spring of 2007. Those young ladies are the reason for all of this, and for me having to talk about myself!”
At the helm of the Hokies since 2019, D’Amour has aided Tech to six straight NCAA Regionals appearances. The Hokies advanced to back-to-back NCAA Super Regionals (2021-22) and brought the NCAA Regionals to Blacksburg for the first time in program history as the No. 3 national seed in 2022.
He has a record of 273-87-1 as a head coach (.758) with the Hokies. Under his leadership, Tech has won 37 or more games in all six full seasons and has four 40-win seasons.
D’Amour, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year (2019, 2022) has coached 43 All-ACC selections at Virginia Tech and four student-athletes to seven NFCA All-American honors.
Prior to Virginia Tech, D’Amour was the head coach at Kennesaw St. for two seasons going 79-37 and advancing to the 2018 NCAA Tournament. He was named the ASUN Coach of the Year in 2018 and saw the Owls earn 15 All-ASUN honors over his two years. The Monrovia, Maryland native also mentored 11 NCAA Division I All-Americans in his 10 seasons at Missouri (2007-16) and saw the Tigers made eight NCAA Super Regionals.
Since 2007, teams that D’Amour has coached have made 17 trips to the NCAA Tournament, 10 Super Regionals, three Women’s College World Series appearances, and one trip to the NISC postseason tournament.
D’Amour will be recognized along with former National USA team members Lauren Gibson and Kathryn Sandercock. Gibson was a three-time NFCA First Team All-American at Tennessee (2010-2013), while Sandercock was the 2023 ACC Pitcher of the Year and a three-time NFCA Second Team All-American at Florida State (2019-23). Both led their respective programs to Women’s College World Series appearances.
“I would like to thank my wife, Anna,” D’Amour said. “Being a coach’s wife isn’t the easiest job in the world. She continues to support me and put up with my quirks. My son Reaux has been the biggest blessing in my life. He’s taught me so many things the last four years and being a “present father” has helped me be a “present coach.” Lastly, thank you to my parents. My mom has been the biggest supporter throughout my life, even through my knucklehead moments in which I’ve had plenty. She taught me a life philosophy of persistence and that’s carried over to my coaching career. No matter what happens, learn from it, and do better the next time. My dad laid the groundwork for my career and instilled a love in softball in me from an early age. He taught me about hard work, dedication, being a good teammate, playing hard, and sacrifice. I couldn’t have asked for a better set of parents or a better way to have been raised.”
