Beginning her third season at the helm of the Saint Joseph's softball program is head coach Terri Adams.

Named the seventh head coach in Hawks' softball history in the fall of 2006, Adams guided a youthful squad that started eight underclassmen to a 13-25 mark in 2007. After starting the season slowly - going 2-11 - Adams helped transform Saint Joseph's into a late-season contender as SJU finished the year winning 11 of its last 25 games, including a 6-4 mark at home. As a team, Saint Joseph's ranked among the Atlantic 10 leaders in triples, fewest runs allowed and opponent batting average, with the pitching staff finishing atop the A-10 with the fewest walks allowed.

A familiar face around the Atlantic 10, Adams came to Saint Joseph's after spending the previous season at Fordham University. In her lone season with the Rams as an assistant coach, Adams helped them to a 37-23 overall record, a 13-5 finish in the Atlantic 10 and a berth in the conference tournament. Adams helped Fordham finish fourth in the A-10 in earned run average (3.05) and second in strikeouts (322). Adams, who served as a volunteer assistant for Fordham in 2006, was named full-time assistant coach in June.

Prior to joining the Rams, Adams spent nine months helping establish the expansion Philadelphia Force of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Serving as assistant coach and director of player personnel, Adams assisted in player development, contract negotiations and leading camp instructions.

A native of Allentown, Pa., Adams began her Division I coaching career as an assistant coach at city-rival Temple University from 1998 to 2005. Working with the Owls, she helped them to a 175-208 overall record and a 76-54 mark in the A-10 over eight seasons. From 2000-04, Temple advanced to five straight Atlantic 10 Tournaments, winning the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship and earning the program's first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. That same season, Adams coached pitcher Kim Watkins to A-10 Pitcher of the Year, A-10 First Team and All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors.

A 1989 graduate of Kutztown University, Adams returned to her alma mater for a three-year stint as an assistant coach. From 1995-97, Adams saw the Golden Bears compile a 96-54 overall record, and a 52-20 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference mark.

Adams began her coaching career as head coach at Salisbury High School (1992-94), before taking an assistant position at Allentown College (1994-95). She also spent nine years coaching the Lehigh Valley Renegades, helping them collect six Pennsylvania ASA State Championships and eight berths in the ASA National Tournament.

A letterwinner in softball, basketball and field hockey at William Allen High School, Adams went on to play softball at Clarion University before transferring to Kutztown University. A dual major in special and elementary education, Adams worked at KidsPeace Therapeutic Center for troubled adolescents for five years following graduation.