Slupinski To Lead Wells College Softball Program
AURORA, N.Y. – Following an extensive national search, Liz Slupinski has been hired as the Head Coach of softball at Wells College, Director of Athletics Michael Lindberg announced Wednesday. Slupinski joins the Express after serving as an Assistant Coach for the Hamilton College softball team since 2011.
Slupinski is tasked with overseeing all aspects of the softball program at Wells. Revived as a varsity sport this past May after a one-year hiatus, the Express will resume varsity play in the North Eastern Athletic Conference as early as 2016-17 after last taking the field in 2014.
“It is with great pleasure to introduce Liz Slupinski as the new Head Coach for softball,” said Lindberg. “Coach Slupinski’s experience as a player for the University of Rochester and as an assistant coach for Hamilton College serves as an excellent foundation for our principles of success. Under her leadership, the student-athletes will not only become better ballplayers, but will become high-achieving students and active members of the community.”
“I would like to thank Provost [Dr. Cindy] Speaker, Michael Lindberg and the search committee for granting me this wonderful opportunity at Wells,” said Slupinski. “With all of the exciting improvements being made across campus, it was the perfect time to join the growing department. I am excited to restart a program at an institution with strong academics, traditions and a strong commitment to the student-athlete experience.”
At Hamilton, Slupinski assisted with practice planning, player development, game execution and strength/conditioning as the team enjoyed tremendous improvement during her tenure. Since joining the Continentals prior to the 2012 season, the squad maintained or improved their winning percentage on a yearly basis.
Competing in the prestigious New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Slupinski was also charged with the team’s recruiting efforts, overseeing a nationwide campaign that identified and evaluated prospective student-athletes at various camps and showcase tournaments. Her efforts yielded the program’s first-ever NESCAC First Team All-Conference selection in 2013.
Slupinski and the Continentals racked up 41 victories from 2013 to the present day, marking the program’s winningest three-year stretch. The 2015 season was also noteworthy as Hamilton swept Amherst in the season series to earn its first NESCAC West Division series sweep since the conference went to a three-game series in 2005.
Under her direction, the team has shown consistent improvement since 2011 in a variety of offensive statistics, including slugging percentage, runs batted in, hits, homeruns, doubles, runs scored and total bases. In her first season working with the offense in 2012, 80% of the starting returners’ batting averages improved. Her teams also have broken the school doubles record twice (2013, 2015), tied the team homerun record (2015) and, in 2015, posted the lowest earned-run average since 2002.
A guest coach and instructor at various camps and clinics across New York and New England, Slupinski has also attended several professional development events such as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaching Convention and other leadership workshops. A member of the Alliance of Women’s Coaches, Slupinski was accepted into and attended the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in June 2015. She has also instructed several Physical Education classes to undergraduate students at Hamilton, including fitness, free weights and volleyball.
A 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester (N.Y.), Slupinski was the starting right fielder as her team appeared in two NCAA regional tournaments after capturing two Liberty League championships (2008, 2009). As a freshman, Slupinski earned University Athletic Association Second Team All-Conference honors and earned Liberty League All-Conference Honorable Mentions in 2008 and 2009. Returning from a 2010 injury, she captured Liberty League Second Team All-Conference as a senior in 2011.
Graduating with a degree in Studio Arts with a minor in Anthropology, Slupinski earned Liberty League All-Academic Team placement during her career at Rochester and was selected to the NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete team in 2011. To qualify for the prestigious award, student-athletes must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or greater.
A native of Hamburg, N.Y., Slupinski began her tenure on Monday, Aug. 3.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
"Coach Liz is a phenomenal coach who is always accessible on-and-off the field for her players. Her knowledge of the game is extensive and she is a wonderful teacher when it comes the mechanics of softball. Any program that she is a part of is going to grow and flourish under her leadership. She is an excellent choice to head-up the Wells College softball program." – Samantha Miller, Hamilton ‘14
FOR TRANSACTIONS
Wells – Announced the hiring of Liz Slupinski as head softball coach. Slupinski was the assistant coach at Hamilton since 2011.