The all-time winningest coach in Elon softball history, Kathy Bocock enters her 16th season at the helm of the Phoenix in 2027. Bocock was promoted the head coach of the Elon softball program after serving as the interim head coach during the 2012 season. Bocock has lead the Maroon and Gold to five 30-win campaigns.
The Phoenix posted a 18-33 campaign in 2026 while navigating through the toughest overall strength of schedule in the CAA. Elon would finish 12-12 during CAA play, earning its seventh straight berth to the league tournament, excluding the canceled 2020 campaign due to COVID. The Phoenix earned a series win at South Division champion UNCW while also seeing Anna Dew pitch the fourth perfect game in school history versus Charleston Southern on Feb. 28. Bocock also achieved her 600th career victory at UNCW.
The 2025 campaign was a magical one for the Phoenix. Elon went 33-21 overall on the year while going 21-6 in the CAA, posting the most conference wins in school history. The Phoenix earned the No. 2 overall seed for the CAA Tournament and went 4-1 against the field, including wins over No. 1 seed Delaware and host Campbell to earn its first-ever CAA Tournament title and the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament under Bocock's helm, advancing to the Columbia Regional in South Carolina. Six players would receive All-CAA accolades while two more earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors.
Elon posted a 23-29 record in 2024 while going 17-10 in the CAA. Among the season highlights was Bocock earning her 300th career win at Elon versus North Dakota State on Feb. 17. The Phoenix would advance to the CAA Tournament, earning the fifth seed while also seeing five players earn All-CAA honors with another being placed on the NFCA All-Region Team.
In 2021, Elon went 18-21 overall and earned the No. 3 seed for the CAA Tournament after going 10-8 in the South Division. Among the highlight wins of the season was the Phoenix handing James Madison its lone loss of the regular season, as the Dukes would go on to advance to the College World Series in Oklahoma City. Individually, the maroon and gold had five members recognized by the CAA including All-CAA members Ally Repko, Megan Grant, Alexa Nemeth and Rebecca Murray while Gabi Schaal was place on the All-Rookie team.
Bocock led the Phoenix to a 11-11 record during the abbreviated 2020 season. Among the accomplishments achieved by the program during the shorten campaign was Elon going 7-3 on its home field at Hunt Softball Park including a doubleheader sweep versus 2019 Big South champion Longwood, who reached the NCAA Tournament. The Phoenix also earned a 2-1 win at intrastate rival North Carolina for Elon's third win in a row over the Tar Heels. Individually, Bocock saw Kenna Quinn earn her first-ever CAA Pitcher of the Week award and also tutored Megan Grant to a CAA Rookie of the Week accolade.
In 2019, Bocock led the Phoenix to its best season ever since joining the CAA in 2015. Elon finished second overall in the league with a 13-7 record and earned a trip to the CAA Championship game for the first time. Overall, the Phoenix ended 2019 with a 33-20-1 ledger and defeated two top-25 teams during the season at No. 8 Georgia and at No. 19 James Madison. The Phoenix also received votes in the NFCA Top-25 poll for the first time while coaching four members of the program to All-CAA accolades.
Under Bocock's guidance in 2018, seniors Hannah Olson and Kara Shutt posted career seasons for the Phoenix with both players being All-CAA selections and earning spots on the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region teams. Olson was named the 2018 CAA Defensive Player of the Year while Shutt was honored as the second NFCA All-American in school history with a third team selection.
The 2017 campaign saw Bocock lead the Phoenix to its second 30-win season in the last three years and its highest winning percentage since 2010 with its 32-21 ledger (.604). It was also the Phoenix’s third straight winning season; the first time it has accomplished that feat at the Division I level. Bocock’s sixth season saw the Phoenix earn three victories versus opponents from the ACC and had five players receive All-CAA honors. Elon also had one player collect NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region accolades.
In 2016, Bocock led the Phoenix to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in her tenure as well as a return trip to the CAA Tournament. Elon also earned its second-ever victory over a top-10 opponent with the Phoenix knocking off No. 6 and CAA perennial power James Madison on April 30, 5-4, in 15 innings. The win gave JMU its first loss of the season during CAA play and its first since 2014. Bocock then had five athletes receive All-CAA accolades including her first first team conference honoree since 2014 in Kara Shutt. Shutt later went on to become Elon's first first team NFCA All-Region selection since 2013.
In 2015, Bocock led Elon to 31 wins and its first winning record since 2011. The Phoenix also posted its first winning season during league play as the maroon and gold posted an 11-10 mark in its first year in the Colonial Athletic Association, finishing third in the league. Elon tied its Division I program-record with seven straight wins and defeated Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia and NC State during the season. The Phoenix had four players receive All-CAA honors with Alaina Hall (second team) and rookies Hannah Olson and Kara Shutt making the league's All-Freshman team. Emily Roper was selected to the CAA All-Academic team.
During the 2014 season, Bocock guided the Phoenix to 24 wins had a seven-game win streak during the year - tying the program's Division I record. The Phoenix offense also set a new program single-season record in home runs with 53 and had two players earn All-SoCon accolades in Carleigh Nester (first team) and Alaina Hall (second team) while Hall also made the SoCon All-Freshman Team. Nester received NFCA All-Region honors for the second straight season with a third team selection.
The 2013 season saw Bocock earn more wins in her first two seasons than any other coach in school history in the fastpitch era. Bocock's squad was among the tops in the Southern Conference offensively as the Phoenix ranked among the top-five in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and home runs. The program also earned its highest win ever over a ranked opponent on Opening Day as the Phoenix upset No. 8 Georgia in Athens, Ga., 5-2. Elon would then go on to sweep perennial SoCon power Chattanooga for the first time in school history. Two players would earn NFCA All-Region accolades under Bocock's watch while Bocock's tutelage helped Tomeka Watson become the program's first-ever NFCA All American.
In her first season at the helm in of the softball program in 2012 as the interim head coach, Bocock led Elon to its best start ever with a 16-5 mark and a overall record of 24-27. The Phoenix also won two games in the conference tournament and had a player named to the All-SoCon second team.
In 2011, Bocock assisted Elon to a 30-24 overall record. The Phoenix finished 19-7 in Southern Conference play and defeated College of Charleston in the first round of the conference tournament.
Bocock helped guide Elon to its most successful season in program history in 2010, as the Phoenix won the Southern Conference Tournament and made its first-ever NCAA Regional appearance. The Phoenix finished the season with a program-record 38 victories.
Prior to her time as the interim coach in 2011-12, Bocock had spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Phoenix. She came to Elon with 24 years of coaching and athletic administrative experience. She also served as a private softball coach in Greensboro, N.C. where she provided hitting and fielding instruction for athletes ranging from ages eight to 15.
Prior to her stint as a volunteer assistant, Bocock was the Senior Women’s Administrator at Averett University where she governed female equality in the athletics department and advised the Student Athletic Committee. Bocock also spent 15 years (1993-2007) as the head softball and women’s basketball coach at Averett. At the helm of the Averett softball program, she helped the team to the 1995 regular-season co-championship and was named the Dixie Conference Coach of the Year for her efforts. She also led the 2000 squad to a 31-13 record and a regional ranking of third. Bocock coached Averett to the 2004 USA South Softball Tournament Championship.
As a student-athlete at Ferrum College, Bocock was named the Co-Female Athlete of the Year during the 1982-83 season and served as the captain of the basketball team in 1982 and 1983.
Bocock is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She earned her bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure services from Ferrum in 1986.
