Danielle Fazzolare Tabbed Head Softball Coach

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — St.  Joseph's College (Brooklyn) interim director of athletics Alex Winnicker has named Danielle Fazzolare head softball coach.

"Danielle is a great addition to the St. Joseph's team," remarked Winnicker. "Her enthusiasm and knowledge of the game is palpable, and I believe the women will form an immediate rapport with her. Her hiring is another step in our continued efforts to raise the competitive bar of every sport at the college."

Fazzolare is currently the head coach of the Long Island Bandits 18-and-under Black team and previously was an assistant coach of the 18-and-under Elite team. The Bandits are a travel softball club based out of Smithtown, N.Y. that plays in some of the most competitive tournaments and showcases in the country, exposing their softball players to high-level competition and preparing them for the college recruitment process. Under her tutelage, Fazzolare has helped place many high school seniors to continue their softball careers at the collegiate level.

"I am very thankful for the opportunity to impart my passion for the game onto my athletes and develop players into champions," commented Fazzolare, "and I look forward to the challenge of making the Lady Bears a contender in the Skyline Conference."

As a collegiate player from 2006 to 2009, Fazzolare was a member of the Ithaca College softball team. During her tenure, the Bombers were ranked nationally, capturing two Empire 8 Conference titles and making three NCAA Division III Nationals appearances, while reaching the NCAA Division III World Series in 2006 and 2008.

Prior to Ithaca, the Long Island native was a 5-year letterman as a starting pitcher and second baseman at Plainedge High School in Massapequa. A three-year captain for the Devils, Fazzolare received Nassau County Softball Association All-Division in 2003, All-Conference in 2004 and 2005 and All-County in 2006 and named team MVP her senior season.

She is just the second head coach in SJC Brooklyn history, and inherits one of the more successful athletic programs at the College. The Lady Bears have compiled a 287-175-3 over 14 seasons and finished 23-20 in 2015.

Fazzolare resides in Massapequa and works as an adapted physical education teacher in the NYC Department of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in health education and physical education from Ithaca College and a Masters of Arts in intellectual disability/autism & childhood/middle childhood education from Columbia University.