RADNOR, PA – The Cabrini University family mourns the passing of former head softball coach Mitchell Kline, who passed away on Thursday. Mass will be offered in Coach Kline's memory on Wednesday, September 28th at 12:30 pm, in the Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of St. Joseph.
Kline, a beloved teacher and coach in the Philadelphia area for more than 35 years, led the Cavaliers' softball resurgence during the 2013-16 seasons.
Under Kline's direction, the Blue and White went 91-68, advancing to the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship games in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and appearing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament each year.
Kline was named 2015 CSAC Coach of the Year after leading Cabrini to a 27-12 campaign, including a 19-3 mark in conference play. The Blue and White ranked 14th in the NCAA in with a .361 team batting average and 7.15 runs per game.
Kline made an immediate impact both in the softball program and the College community as a whole, recognized by receiving the 2014 Cabrini Athletics Denis Edwards Award, given to an individual who best exemplifies the spirit of Cabrini Athletics.
Another of Coach Kline's passions was raising money for cancer research, a disease that had touched his life deeply. In June 2015, Kline competed in the Johnson & Johnson TriRock Philadelphia Triathlon, completing the 1,500 meter swim, 24.8 mile bike and 6.2 mile run, with a time of 2:32.29, good for 21st in his age group.
Kline teamed with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program to raise money in memory of three special ladies who were stricken with leukemia or lymphoma: his wife Sandee, his mom Dottie and his mother-in-law Miriam. Kline raised more than $6,500 for the Society, making him the top fundraiser for the Team in Training's Philadelphia Triathlon group. In total, Kline has raised more than $30,000 to benefit blood cancer research in four years.
"This just shows what Mitch is capable of through his selfless commitment to others and his determination," said Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation
Orlin Jespersen at the time. "We are fortunate to have someone like him here at Cabrini setting a terrific example for our students, as well as the rest of us, in ways we can contribute to our communities."
Kline came to Cabrini after a two year stint as athletic director at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, where he was also a health and physical education teacher.
Kline also held college coaching stints at Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges. Kline was the head softball coach at Swarthmore from 2000-03, where he also assisted with the Garnet volleyball team during the 2001 campaign. He also volunteered with the Haverford softball team during the 1996 season.
Kline's coaching career dates back to 1981 at Frankford High School at the head girl's cross country coach. Since then, he has been a successful coach in a variety of sports including track and field, basketball, softball and field hockey, winning championships at each stop and garnering 13 Coach of the Year awards. Kline retired from coaching the Northeast High School field hockey team in 2009 after capturing four consecutive Public League Championships from 2005-09.
In addition to his high school and college experience, Kline's playing and coaching careers have also exposed him to international outings. Since 2000, Kline has been an assistant baseball coach for the Junior Maccabi Games for the 15-16 year old boys' team. He also traveled to Mexico City in 1999 as the manager for Team USA at the Maccabiah Pan American Games.
As a player, Kline was a member of the United States Fastpitch Softball Team at the Maccabiah Games, capturing gold medals in 1985 and 1989, and silver in 1993.
Kline's teaching career began in 1974 at Richard R. Wright and James G. Blaine Elementary School in Philadelphia and has spanned more than 35 years, mainly in the Philadelphia public school system.
