Robin Petrini, the long-time head coach of the Penn State softball program, announced that she will resign today. A national search for her replacement will began immediately, according to athletic director Dave Joyner.

“I am very appreciative of Robin’s contributions to the softball program and Penn State,” Joyner said yesterday. “Robin has developed her softball student-athletes as exemplary representatives of Penn State. We thank her for 17 years of loyal service to Penn State University, and wish her all the best.”

Petrini had a record of 489-437-2 during her seventeen years as the softball team’s head coach. The program has turned in winning seasons in 11 of the last 14 years. Petrini led Penn State to eight NCAA tournaments and eight of ten Big Ten Conference tournaments during her tenure as head coach.

Petrini coached four All-Americans, the most recent being first-team honoree Cassidy Bell this past season. During the 2000 season, she led Penn State to its first NCAA tournament birth in 15 years.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached at Penn State,” said Petrini. “I would like to thank all of the wonderful student-athletes I have coached over the years, as well as [associate head coach] Jen McIntyre and assistants who have contributed so much to the success of the Penn State Softball Program.”

“I am especially grateful to Bill and Lee Beard and all our loyal donors for their roles in taking Nittany Lion Softball Park from a dream to reality,” Petrini added. “I am very proud of my role in helping to produce one of the best softball facilities in the nation – the host site for the 2011 NCAA Regional Tournament. Through the years I have been blessed with a fantastic grounds crew, support staff, booster club and fans.”

Petrini took over as skipper for the softball team in 1996. By 2000, the team had recorded its first ever consecutive 30-win seasons and broke the record that it set the previous year, making it to the NCAA tournament that season.