By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
One of South Jersey’s premier softball programs will have a new leader this spring.
Diane Nelson was recently approved as the head softball coach at Kingsway Regional High by the Kingsway Regional School District Board of Education, per Athletic Director June Cioffi. She succeeds Jill Ward, who stepped down in December after five seasons at the helm.
Nelson, 55, brings a wealth of experience to the Dragons.
“Coaching was always something I’ve enjoyed,” said Nelson, a 1989 graduate of Clifton High who earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Rutgers University in 1993. “Now that my kids are older, it frees up a lot of time to do that.”
Nelson was an assistant at Metuchen, Passaic Valley and Clifton before leading the programs at Timber Creek and Triton in the early 2000s. She taught elementary school students while residing in California for 12 years from 2011 to 2023. When she moved back to the Garden State two years ago, she said she was unsure if she would teach full-time again.
A substitute position opened up at Kingsway, and she took an open health and physical education teacher position at the high school.
“I’ve always kind of thought about coaching again, but no,” Nelson said when asked if she thought she would coach at the high school level again. “We picked Swedesboro based on the area and school district. We figured it was a good area, and June told me she had a long-term substitute position open. That turned into a job and now coaching.”
Nelson takes over a program with a long history of success. Under Ward’s direction, Kingsway won three sectional titles. Last spring, the Dragons finished with a 24-3 overall record, capturing the South Jersey Group 4 crown with an 8-2 triumph over Rancocas Valley in the sectional final.
“Coach Nelson brings experience, commitment and a strong focus on student-athlete development to the program,” Cioffi said. “We are confident that she will provide positive leadership and continue to build on the values and expectations of the softball program.”
The Dragons graduated numerous key starters last spring, but will return senior pitcher Ava Snyder, infielder Reese Whitzell and outfielder Karsen Taylor, among others.
“I’ll honor the traditions and everything that the program has built already,” Nelson said. “I like the expectation. It’s motivating.”
