MANSFIELD, PA— It was a doubleheader of sorts as Head Baseball Coach Harry Hillson and Head Softball coach Edith Gallagher were both awarded the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence by President Fran Hendricks on Saturday, April 2.
Hillson’s presentation was made before the Mountaineers doubleheader sweep of Shippensburg at Shaute Field. Gallagher was awarded her coin at a gathering of friends and supporters at Decker Gymnasium after MU swept a twin bill from I.U.P.
“With the standard of excellence that Coaches Gallagher and Hillson have established and maintained in their programs, they are both deserving of this honor and it was only appropriate that they be honored on the same day,” Hendricks said. “Harry and Edith have both brought great credit to Mansfield not just with their success, but how they have achieved that success through hard work and dedication.”
Now in his 30th season in charge of the MU baseball program, Hillson became one of only three coaches in Pennsylvania collegiate baseball history to win 850 game 
earlier this season. He has directed the Mountaineers to more wins than all the other Mansfield baseball coaches combined in the program’s 149-year history.
In his first 29 seasons, Hillson has directed his Mountaineers to 15 PSAC playoff berths, winning seven PSAC East titles and five PSAC Championships. His teams have appeared in eight NCAA Regional playoffs capturing three titles to advance to three trips to the NCAA Division II World Series including a second place finish in 1992.
Gallagher, now in her 25th season, is the school’s longest serving and winningest women’s head coach. She became the first female coach in school history to reach
the 400 win milestone earlier this season.
Gallagher came to Mansfield in the fall of 1990 as an assistant field hockey and softball coach. She took over as the head coach of softball in 1992 and also added head field hockey coaching responsibilities during the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
In her first 24 seasons as a head coach, Gallagher has directed teams to four trips to the ECAC Championship Tournament, winning the titles in 1992 and 2004. In 2009, she guided the Mounties to the program’s first-ever PSAC playoff berth. Her 2013 squad stands as the pinnacle of success, earning the Mountaineers first divisional championship by winning the PSAC Central title and earning the program’s first-ever NCAA playoff berth.
The coin was developed by Hendricks and designed by MU Senior Graphics Designer Andy Worthington. It is awarded selectively to persons who have made significant contributions to the university, using the attributes of the Mansfield Creed; Character, Scholarship, Culture and Service as a guideline.
The coin bears several symbols representing historical highlights and other aspects of the university that make it distinctive.
For more information on the Mansfield University Presidential Coin for Excellence and to see the gallery of honorees, go to president.mansfield.edu/coin-for-excellence