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St. Vincent Pallotti High School softball coach Paul O'Brien has accepted a position as the hitting coach for Shippensburg (Pa.) University, and asstant coach Mike Gleason will take over the Panthers this spring.

O'Brien went 145-89 during two stints at Pallotti and was 32-6 in two seasons at Archbishop Spalding, where he guided the Cavaliers to the Independent Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference title in 2008. Shippensburg is part of the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

"When [Shippensburg] coach [Bob] Brookings made me the offer I just felt it was something that I could not turn down," said O'Brien, who will continue teaching religion at Pallotti and commute to Shippensburg, Pa., a drive of more than two hours each way. "I'll be heading up there three times each week to work with the players and then going back up on weekends for their games. The administration at Pallotti was very supportive, and the best part is that it won't interfere with my teaching."

Gleason, the former Prince George's Community College softball coach who has been an assistant under O'Brien at Spalding and Pallotti, accepted the Panthers' job last week. Gleason will be the school's fourth softball coach in four seasons.

"I think it's a great opportunity for Paul," Gleason said. "This has been his life's ambition to coach at the next level and I know he'll do well up there. We've got a good group of girls coming back, especially starting with the battery [pitcher Karlyn Buker and catcher Kelly Trimble]. We're in a very tough conference and you have to come ready to play every game."

Trimble, a University of Maryland recruit, said she and Buker worked extensively with Gleason last year.

"We know coach Gleason really well, and I can't think of anyone better to take over the program," Trimble said. "He expects a lot from us and the players have a lot of respect for him. I'm happy for coach O'Brien. He's put in a lot of time at Pallotti over the last 15 years."

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.