New Paltz Sports Information Department
NEW PALTZ, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation, Stuart Robinson, announced the hire of Krysti Maronski as the new head softball coach Friday.
Maronski joins the Hawks after three seasons as the assistant coach at Rowan University. Maronski was on staff that guided the program to two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament championships (2016 and 2018), two regular season NJAC Championships (2015 and 2016), four NCAA appearances, and a pair of NCAA Regional Championships, NCAA Super Regional Championships and NCAA national title appearances, respectively.
"I think my experience at Rowan has given me that kind of championship culture and experience," said Maronski. "I think learning from the head coach there and the assistant coaches in the past, I have gained a lot of experience that will help us be successful here at New Paltz in the future."
Maronski played two seasons for Division I Rider University, competing in 30 games and winning two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Pitcher of the Week awards during that span. She then played for the Profs from 2012-2014 and became a NJAC All-Conference and National Fastpitch Coaches Association first-team selection and an Eastern College Athletic Conference Metro Region All-Star after helping lead her team to a NJAC Tournament and NCAA Ithaca Regional titles in 2014.
"Having started out her collegiate career as a Division I athlete and transferring to Division III I think she has an appreciation for what the Division I level potentially offers a student, but more importantly understands the rewards and the significance for excellence that can be achieved at the Division III level coming from a program like Rowan that has had the level of success that they've enjoyed," Robinson said. "She brings an understanding that I think will be relatable for our students to show that championship level softball is possible at New Paltz."
Maronski worked with all aspects of the team at Rowan but primarily with the pitching staff, which combined for a 1.70 ERA over the last three seasons with a 152-43 overall record. She hopes she can bring the same success to the Hawks.
"I am really excited. I think that on my interview here, seeing New Paltz and everything it has to offer I think that we can build a program here that has success," she said. "This school is a great school itself. It is in a great location. The athletic department has great support and I think that the student athletes coming in here can have a great experience. I am really excited to build this program moving forward."
SUNY New Paltz went 14-21-1 in 2018, playing through a rash of injuries in their starting lineup. Their season was highlighted by an extra-inning win over nationally ranked Tufts University March 23. The Hawks graduated just five players (Lauren Cappello, Taylor Leonette, Alexa Mastando and Danielle Bruno) from last season's team and is projected to bring back the majority of their roster in 2019.
"I think it is going to be a process, nothing changes over night," Maronski said. "Getting the kids to buy in to what we're teaching them and realize that this is a family, and everyone has each other's backs, supporting one another. That is going to be the keys to bringing up what we have and building on it."
