RALEIGH, N.C. - Shawn Rychcik, one of the nation's most highly respected collegiate coaches, has accepted the challenge to build NC State softball into an ACC and NCAA Championship-caliber program, athletics director Deborah A. Yow announced on Friday. Rychcik guided Boston University to NCAA Regionals and America East Conference championships in three of the last four seasons.

"Shawn has a clear vision of how to mold our softball program into one destined for the College World Series. His recruiting results and graduation outcomes, achieved within a modest infrastructure, are quite simply stunning. We were drawn to his values and work ethic. The fit for NC State is an excellent one and we welcome Shawn and his family to our Wolfpack Family," said Yow.

Rychcik's squads posted the only two 40-win seasons in school history, with 43 in 2009 and 41 this past season, including defeats of four top 25 national opponents. He is the all-time winningest coach in BU history with a 271-159 record in eight seasons, including an outstanding 114-40 record in America East Conference play. He built the Terriers into an America East powerhouse, finishing first or second in the regular-season standings in seven of his eight seasons as head coach, winning four regular-season titles and three conference tournament championships.

"I would like to thank Deborah Yow and her staff for giving me and my family this tremendous opportunity. From the moment I got to Raleigh, I felt that this was a perfect fit for me. I am looking forward to this challenge and believe we will build North Carolina State softball into an ACC and National Championship contender," said Rychcik.

Rychcik's BU teams completely rewrote the school's offensive record books, setting 10 offensive team records and 11 individual single-season marks. His 2007 team was ranked fourth in the nation with 65 home runs in 48 games, sixth in slugging percentage and 12th in scoring.

He first arrived at Boston University as an assistant coach in 2002, a position he held for two years until he was elevated to head coach in the summer of 2004. Prior to BU, he served as first assistant at St. Bonaventure and Millikin University.

Rychcik is also a member of U.S. women's national team coaching pool as an assistant coach in developing national team and future Olympic players.

Considered the best men's fast pitch softball player in the world for a number of years, Rychcik played for the U.S. men's national team from 1994-2002. He served as team captain for four of his eight seasons and won one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal. As one of the top players in United States history, Rychcik was honored as the United States Olympic Committee's Athlete of the Year in both 1999 and 2000.

In 23 years as a player, Rychcik was an 11-time International Softball Congress (ISC) All-World selection and an eight-time Amateur Softball Association (ASA) All-American. He was a member of five ISA World Championship teams and two ASA national championship teams. He will be inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame this September.

A native of Salamanca, N.Y., Rychcik graduated from Gannon University in 1991 with a degree in physical education/sports management. He and his wife, Tricia, have two sons, Ajay and Drew.

"Shawn is a winner ... he has proven that as a player and a coach. In time, he'll lead NC State to new levels of success." - Ehren Earleywine, Head Coach, University of Missouri

"North Carolina State made a great choice in hiring Shawn Rychcik. Shawn is an outstanding teacher and has a great mind for the game. He is a proven winner and his teams play with a lot of passion and heart. I believe in a very short time that NC State will be one of the top teams in the ACC and nationally competitive." - Mike Larabee, Head Coach, University of Arkansas

"Shawn Rychcik is one of the most exciting young coaches in our game. He is a great teacher whose teams are fundamentally sound in every aspect. His teams are always competitive and always prepared to play." - Ralph Weekly, Head Coach, University of Tennessee

- Three NCAA Regionals (2009, '10, '12)

- Three America East Conference tournament titles (2009, '10, '12)

- Four America East Conference regular-season titles (2007, '10, '11, '12)

- Four-time America East Conference Coach of the Year (2007, '10, '11, '12)

- 271-159 overall record (.630 winning percentage)

- 114-40 America East Conference record (.740 winning percentage)

- Two All-Americans and four NFCA Academic All-Americans

- Four America East players of the year, three pitchers of the year, and four rookies of the year

- 46 America East All-Conference players, 20 all-rookie selections

- APR of 1000 (one of only 15 softball programs in Division I-A)

- United States Men's National Fastpitch Softball Team

- 2-time United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year in Men's Softball (1999, '00)

- 4-time Captain of Team USA (1998, '99, '00, '02)

- Won 5 medals with Team USA (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)

- 63-15 record of Team USA with Rychcik in the lineup for 78 career games

- .352 career batting average, 16 home runs and 55 RBIs with Team USA

- 2-time ASA Men's Major Fastpitch Player of the Year (1999, '00)

- 8-time ASA All-American (1993, '94, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00)

- ASA Men's Major National Champions (1997 & '99)

- MVP and Leading Hitter of ASA Men's Major National Championship (1999)

- ASA Men's Major RBI Record (14) for National Tournament

- Inducted into ASA Western New York Softball Hall of Fame (2002)

- 5-time ISC World Champions (1994, '98, '00, '05, '06)

- 11-time ISC All-World (1989, '94, '96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '04, '05)

- To be inducted into ISC Hall of Fame (September 2012)