Riverdale, N.Y. (September 14, 2006)-Manhattan College Athletic Director Bob Byrnes announced today the hiring of Meaghan Asselta as Manhattan's new head softball coach.
A 2005 graduate of Rutgers University, Asselta comes to Riverdale with an impressive record as a head coach and student-athlete and has been involved in numerous softball camps throughout the Tri-State area. From 2003-05, Asselta served as varsity head softball coach of Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, N.J. While at the helm of the Cougars, Asselta's squad were back-to-back State Champions in 2004 and 2005. For three straight years, Asselta also guided her team a top five ranking in the Newark Star Ledger's end of year softball rankings. Additionally in 2005, she was named Coach of the Year in the Colonial Hills Conference.
From 2005 until her arrival at Manhattan College, the Ramsey, N.J. native served as head softball coach for the 18U Gold Fall/Summer Pride Softball, a team that competed in numerous elite College Showcase Tournaments. She has coached several players who have received scholarships from Division I programs. During this time, Asselta also served as assistant softball coach at Drew University in Madison N.J. Her duties included calling pitches during games, overseeing infield practice and assisting in all aspects of recruiting.
In addition to her coaching, Asselta has led and participated in several softball clinics. In 2005, she created and conducted a softball coaches clinic that was attended by over 45 coaches, and featured training programs she specifically developed. She has also participated in camps at Drew and at Rutgers where she was responsible for coaching all aspects of infield play.
Asselta also had a decorated playing career in high school and in college. At Immaculate Heart Academy she was awarded 12 varsity letters in softball, basketball, and tennis. She holds the school record in career hits, single season hits, and season batting average, and was named to the Star Ledger's All-Century Team at shortstop in 1999.
While playing for the Scarlet Knights she started at shortstop from 2001-03 and was team captain for the 2002-03 season.
Asselta inherits a team that went 26-24 last season, and finished seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 6-10 record. The Lady Jaspers will see 14 letter winners return, including sophomore
Danielle Just who was named First Team All-MAAC Designated Player, and Second Team All-MAAC outfield selection
Liz Strein.
