By Dillon Flanigan
Sports Editor
If the departure of former head coach of gymnastics Byron Knox came as a surprise, then the university’s loss of another veteran head coach is another shocking blow to the coaching roster.
In a late press release on Sept. 12, the university athletics and recreation department, led by Terrance Jones, announced that Head Softball Coach Jillian Rispoli had resigned to “pursue other professional opportunities.”
In Rispoli’s tenure, she went 125-230-1 including a 4-4 record in four NE10 Conference appearances.
In the same release, the university named Kate Bowen as the interim head coach of the program.
Bowen resigned on the same day from Springfield College as head coach of their softball program.
“Bowen is a highly respected coach with experience in athletic administration,” Jones said in the press release. “We’re ecstatic to bring someone of Kate’s caliber to Southern to guide our softball student-athletes.”
Bowen served as head coach in Springfield for eight seasons and served as a graduate assistant for three seasons prior. She held a 180-88-1 overall record which translates to a .697 winning percentage, the release goes on to say.
“I am excited to join the Southern Connecticut State University family and to come back home to Connecticut. I look forward to working with this group of student-athletes to continue and build upon the program’s tradition of excellence,” Bowen said.
Bowen was a former softball player in her own right at NCAA Division I Manhattan College, receiving several team and personal accomplishments, including being a two-time recipient of Manhattan College’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
The press release further states she played three seasons for the Stratford Brakettes, a professional softball team winning three national championships.
The Southern News reached out to the Athletic Department and received the following statement.
“Jillian Rispoli resigned her position as SCSU’s Softball Head Coach to relocate to another state with her family,” the athletic department said. For more on this story, visit thesouthernews.com
VOL. 64- ISSUE 3
