Virginia Beach, VA – One of the nation's most successful NCAA Division III coaches, Brandon Elliott, has been named Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Virginia Wesleyan University while continuing in his role as Head Softball Coach of the top-ranked Marlins softball program.

The announcement was made today by Virginia Wesleyan University President Scott D. Miller.

"Brandon Elliott represents the very best of Virginia Wesleyan University," said Dr. Miller. "His extraordinary record of success, commitment to student-athletes, and deep understanding of our institutional culture make him uniquely qualified to lead Marlin Athletics into the future. Brandon has built one of the premier softball programs in NCAA Division III history while demonstrating integrity, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. We are pleased to elevate him to this important leadership role."

Elliott becomes the University's athletics leader after building one of the most accomplished programs in collegiate softball. He has most recently served as Assistant Director of Athletics for Advancement and Head Softball Coach.

In 19 seasons as head coach, he has compiled a remarkable 716-158-2 record and guided the Marlins to NCAA Division III National Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2021. His teams have captured 12 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships and become a perennial national power, regularly advancing deep into NCAA postseason competition. His teams have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 13 consecutive tournaments, while advancing to seven NCAA Super Regionals and multiple NCAA Division III Women's College World Series appearances. Elliott will now lead a Marlins athletics program that includes 25 intercollegiate sports and has established itself as one of the premier programs in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III.

He replaces Andrea Hoover-Erbig, who accepted the Athletics Director position at Wilson College last month after 20 years at Virginia Wesleyan University, first as Head Volleyball Coach and most recently as Athletics Director.

Currently, the Marlins are 45-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Virginia Wesleyan University announced last year that on July 1, 2026, it will become Batten University in honor of noted philanthropist Jane Batten and her family. Sentara College of Health Sciences, founded in 1892, will transition to become a professional college of the University this summer. The University also integrated the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art into the campus this spring and added off-campus instructional centers at St. Brides Correctional Center and Indian Creek Correctional Center. The University enrolled approximately 1,500 students in traditional undergraduate and graduate programs and 3,500 learners in non-traditional programs during the current academic year.

"I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve Virginia Wesleyan University in this new capacity," said Brandon Elliott. "This institution has meant so much to me and my family for many years. I want to thank Dr. Miller and University leadership for their confidence and support. Virginia Wesleyan has a proud athletic tradition centered on excellence in competition, academics, and character development, and I look forward to working alongside our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to continue building on that momentum."

Under Elliott's leadership, the Marlins have consistently ranked among the nation's elite programs. In 2025, Virginia Wesleyan finished as the NCAA Division III National Runner-Up after another dominant postseason run.

Elliott's coaching résumé includes numerous national honors. He and his staff have been recognized multiple times as National Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). His student-athletes have earned All-American honors, national player and pitcher of the year awards, conference championships, and NCAA records in numerous statistical categories.

A native of Coastal Virginia, Elliott is a former Virginia Wesleyan baseball student-athlete who graduated from the University in 2003 with a degree in communications and later earned a master's degree in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania. Before taking over the softball program, he served as an assistant baseball coach for the Marlins from 2003 to 2007.
Elliott and his wife, Laura Mills Elliott, a 2005 Virginia Wesleyan graduate, reside in Chesapeake with their children, Cooper and Rylan. 

About Virginia Wesleyan University, becoming Batten University July 1, 2026       
Virginia Wesleyan University is Virginia's innovative university of the arts and sciences. Situated on a 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach, the University annually enrolls approximately 5,000 learners, with 1,500 students in undergraduate and graduate programs and additional lifelong learners in credit and non-credit programs offered by VWU Global Campus. The University features a College of Arts and Sciences, a collaborative campus in Tokyo, Japan, and a prison education program. In 2026, the nationally acclaimed Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art opened on the Virginia Beach campus and the Sentara College of Health Sciences, founded in 1892, will be integrated into the University (pending accreditation approval). As a learning community located in the rich and unique ecosystems of Coastal Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the University is committed to developing the next generation of environmental stewards. For more information, visit www.vwu.edu.