Julia Popovich finished her sixth season as assistant softball coach at Arcadia University in 2019.
The 2019 campaign was a historic season as the Knights captured the program's first ever MAC Commonwealth Championship, first ever NCAA Tournament win and the most victories (33) since 2006 when the team tallied 34 wins. Jackie Bilotti become the first Knight since 2007 to earn All-America honors, while Bilotti and Mary Pat Murray both garnered All-Region recognition.
In 2018, the Knights posted a record of 26-14 and qualified for the MAC Commonwealth Championship for the third straight year and earned the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The top-seeded Knights advanced all the way to Championship Round, falling to eventual champion Messiah in the finals. Arcadia had five players earn all-conference recognition, including Player (Bilotti) and Rookie (DeStefano) of the Year honors. Bilotti was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, and was named the PhillySIDA Softball Performer of the Year.
In 2017, Arcadia went 30-13 overall and earned a second consecutive appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Championship before claiming the program’s second straight ECAC title. Bilotti was chosen MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year, NFCA All-Region Second-Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District® laurels, while freshman Kylee Schwind was named MAC Commonwealth Pitcher of the Year honors.
Prior to Arcadia, Popovich spent three seasons at NCAA Division II Indiana University (Pa.), where she worked primarily with the team’s pitching staff. She helped lead the Crimson Hawks to a record of 89-46-1in her three seasons on the bench, and qualified for the NCAA championship tournament twice in three years. Popovich coached a total of seven All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PSAC) selections, including the 2014 West Freshman of the Year, and four National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region selections.
IUP went 34-14-1 as it won the 2012 PSAC title and advanced to the 2012 NCAA Atlantic Region final. The Crimson Hawks went 32-17 in 2014 and were qualified for the NCAA regional championship for the second time in three years.
A 2010 graduate of Lock Haven University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Popovich started her coaching career as a student assistant for the Division II Bald Eagles in 2010 before serving as an assistant coach at Division I Costal Carolina University in 2011. She was primarily responsible for developing outfielders, hitters/slappers, and pitchers for the Chanticleers. She has also worked at various camps and clinics, including serving as a camp counselor at Penn State University.
As a player, Popovich was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team during both of Lock Haven’s national title wins, was a two-time All-PSAC West First-Team selection in 2006 and 2007, earned NFCA All-Region honors in 2007, and was named the 2009 PSAC Tournament MVP. She owns the Lock Haven single season record for at bats with 199 and ranks second in hits in a single season with 70. Popovich is also listed in the top 10 in a number of Lock Haven career records, including games played (218, fifth), at bats (678, second), hits (202, fifth), runs scored (138, second) and stolen bases (46, sixth) Finishing her career with a batting average of .307.
Updated: 6/02/20
