GREENVILLE – Milestone victories often reflect far more than a number, and for Greenville Hall of Fame Lady Wave softball coach Jerrod Newland, Saturday’s 600th OHSAA varsity career win was a celebration of people, relationships, and a program built over more than two decades of excellence.
Newland’s landmark victory came against the Ansonia Lady Tigers, a team with deep ties to Greenville softball and to Newland himself, making the moment even more meaningful in front of a large crowd at Lady Wave Stadium at Stebbins Field.
“Twenty-five years ago, I showed up, and it was Denny Ruble and Rich Rosinski, and now Denny is my right-hand man, and I married Rich’s daughter, so it’s just good stuff, and I’m proud of the time here; it’s been awesome,” said Newland. “It’s just fun, and it’s been a great ride. Two days ago, I told somebody I was going to coach another five years. We’re excited because we always wonder when I am going to stop, and the answer is, it’s going to be at least another five years or until they want to get rid of me, I guess.”
As always, Newland quickly redirected attention away from himself and toward the players, families, assistants, and community members who helped shape the Lady Wave program into one of Ohio’s elite softball traditions.
“I just want to thank my wonderful wifey for supporting, allowing, and joining me as we continue to do this softball thing at a very high level throughout the year,” Coach Newland said of his wife Erin, a former Lady Wave Softball player.
“A lot of good people, a lot of good families, good people have been through the program, and I still don’t have a hit, never got a hit, and never pitched, but it’s been fun, and the kicker is, surround yourself with good people and great things happen. Our coaching staff is the best staff in the State of Ohio; it’s unbelievable.”
“I just can’t thank the community enough because that’s what it’s all about – this Greenville community and what they do for the Lady Wave Softball team,” he continued. “I can’t thank them enough, and I can’t thank the school enough, but more importantly, the families and the coaching staff and the people we surround ourselves with, great people.”
Several former Greenville stars — now coaches themselves — reflected on Newland’s impact, offering insight into the demanding but rewarding culture he created.
Justine Shilt, a member of Greenville’s 2007 state championship team, a two-time All-Ohio selection, and a former Wright State standout, praised the standard Newland established.
“Jerrod came in my eighth-grade year. What he’s done for the program says a lot about him and the girls,” Shilt said.
“He’s very aggressive, but what people have to understand is, when you push kids to be their best, you’re going to get that in return, and the good thing is, the kids have never shied away or gone the other direction and run from him,” she added. “He pushes to be our best, and that’s why he is successful with what he does, and the kids have come out successful, so it’s great for everybody.”
Shilt still vividly recalls Greenville’s 2007 title run.
“That was a good time,” said Shilt. “It’s crazy to think about being so long ago but you can still remember certain plays like it was yesterday. It’s nice to be able to bring something back for Greenville, and a lot of hard work goes into that, and that’s what happens when all that hard work goes into play, and good things come out of it. I’m just glad that Jerrod is still sticking around and hanging in there because he has done a real good job building a program here.”
Newland acknowledged that his early coaching style was intense, but said players like Shilt embraced that demanding approach.
“In the beginning, they allowed me to do what I did, and those kids allowed me to coach hard,” Newland said. “I coach softball like it’s football, and those first few years, if I coached like that today, I probably wouldn’t be coaching the way I coached those first few years. That’s not politically correct anymore and I would agree that that was crazy and Justine is amazing. What she does for the kids and sets an example for a role model, but more importantly, player, coach, what she brings back, the daily grind, year-round softball for us, and you can’t say enough about Justine and her dad (Jeff Shilt), just amazing people, great family, and sister Lani, an All-Stater.”
Another former standout now helping lead the program is Ally Russell Bowers, a three-time All-Ohio player and two-time All-American who returned as an assistant coach after starring for Greenville from 2013-2015.
“It’s fun to be on both sides of it, to play for him and now get to coach with him,” said Bowers. “Just awesome for the program and for him.”
Newland praised Bowers’ sharp softball mind and her value to Greenville’s current pitching staff.
“I can’t say enough about Ally,” Newland said. “One of the best pitchers ever and coming back here. She’s so sharp mentally; her Ella (Oswalt), Lizzy (Shaffer), and Denny Ruble, what the four of them are going through and talking about and doing and making balls dance, and just so awesome for that. She was a DI third baseman and pitched back in her day, was an All-American, and what she brings to the table and her husband and the little ones and the family, and allowing her to do this is so amazing and I love her to death.”
Morgan Gilbert, a 2020 Greenville graduate and former four-year starting shortstop, also returned this season as both a Greenville teacher and assistant coach after completing her Division I college career.
“It was great to know that every day we were going to go out and compete and it was always going to be a good ballgame,” Gilbert said. “I am thankful that I was part of the program where we really took pride in how we represented each other, and the school, and I am very thankful for that. Now I get to be on the other side with them.”
Gilbert said one of her most treasured keepsakes remains the glass clock plaque Newland made and gave to the COVID-canceled 2020 seniors.
“I have it in my classroom now,” said Gilbert. “It was definitely a hard year, and it makes me even more thankful to be back now because it taught me not to take things for granted.”
Newland calls Gilbert “the Energizer Bunny.”
“Gilby is the Energizer Bunny and what she does is great,” he said. “Right now, she is coaching JV and helping with the varsity team. She is making her kids better and the daily thing at practice. We do a lot in small groups, and everybody runs their groups. Gilby loves working with kids and playing and just so proud of her too.”
Even on the opposing sideline Saturday, Newland’s influence was evident. Ansonia assistant coach Jordyn Fisherback, a former Greenville standout and two-time All-Ohio player, credits Newland with helping shape her future.
“Jerrod was awesome to play for,” Fisherback said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at without him today. He holds a special place in my heart and always will. The things he has taught me, he prepared me for college, he prepared me for real life, and that is part of the reason I wanted to get back into coaching, because he made such an impact on my life that I want to do the same for others.”
“Everybody wants to be like Greenville,” she added. “Coach Newland has built something really special, and I am honored to be able to say I was part of it.”
Newland, smiling, joked about Fisherback’s loyalty.
“If Jordyn lives in Ohio much longer, we’re going to change that orange to green in a little bit,” he said with a chuckle.
Softball has always been a family legacy for Newland, who began keeping scorebooks at age eight for his father, Greg Newland, himself an Ohio Hall of Fame coach.
“It’s certainly a family affair,” Greg Newland said. “I am proud of Jerrod’s coaching successes.”
Greenville Athletic Director Aaron Shaffer said the 600-win milestone reflects both consistency and sustained excellence.
“It speaks to longevity but it also speaks to the program that they built over the years,” Shaffer said. “That’s a lot of wins year over year over year – it’s impressive. He’ll probably tell you he only has a handful of years left, but he’s a competitor. I’m sure he’ll be around for the foreseeable future to lead Lady Wave Softball.”
Newland reached 600 wins in just 23 seasons at Greenville, with at least 25 victories in 22 consecutive years.
“We are really proud of our program and the things Coach Newland has been able to do,” Shaffer added. “That is one of the things we kind of hang our hat on as a program, is the 25 wins-plus a year. To do that year after year – it’s impressive in and of itself, but as fast as he has been able to do it is that much more impressive.”
And if Newland has his way, milestone No. 600 is far from the finish line.
“Just proud of it and excited for the next five years because I’ll be here until they ask me to no longer be here, I guess,” Newland said with a smile, “and as we used to say, the best is still to come.”
