Alan Tharp begins his seventh year as softball assistant coach in 2017-18. He has been involved in all aspects of player development, team administration and other activities with the Capital softball program.
While alongside head coach Nan Payne, the Crusaders have enjoyed six 20-plus win seasons, an OAC regular season championship, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and a school record 35 wins in 2013. Following the 2013 season, Tharp and the Capital coaching staff was named OAC Staff of the Year.
Nine different student-athletes have been named NFCA All-Central Region and in 2015, LeAnna Cotton became the second All-American to be named while Tharp has been on staff (Devan Boggs, 2013). Cotton was also named the 2015 OAC Player of the Year. In 2013, Boggs was also named CoSIDA Academic All-America marking just the fifth such honoree in program history. Over his tenure, 14 different student-athletes have garnered a combined 24 all-conference honors.
Currently, Tharp is also the head softball coach at Olentangy High School. Prior to Capital, he worked on the Pickerington Central High School staff, coaching the junior high, junior varsity and varsity squads. The Columbus native also has 15 years of experience coaching travel baseball and fast pitch softball and never posted a losing season during that span.
A recent retiree after working 31 years for the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio, Tharp was the Director of Administrative Services while working in several other capacities during his tenure with the company.
Prior to youth coaching, Tharp played baseball and coached in competitive softball for over 20 years. He graduated from Columbus South High School and attended Columbus State Community College.
Tharp currently resides in Pickerington, where he has lived for over 20 years with his wife of more than 30 years, Dee. The couple has two children, Keith and Kayla.
Payne on Sharp…
“I’m excited to have Alan in our program because he brings many things to the team. He will bring a lot of details, organization and unity to our coaching staff. His added experience will offer some new things to our program in terms of preparation and detail. Each member of our staff will be working together on each aspect of the team to ensure the continued success of our program.”
