WILLIMANTIC—Amber Maisonet, who spent the last 16 years coaching at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was been hired as the new head softball coach at Eastern Connecticut State University.
ECSU Director of Athletics Lori Runksmeier announced the hiring on Wednesday 8.
Maisonet replaces Connecticut coaching legend Diana Pepin, who stepped down following the spring season after leading the Warriors program for 25 years and putting together a 611-355-3 career record.
Maisonet joins the Warriors after spending the last 16 years at RPI, where she led the Engineers to eight Liberty League regular season titles, two Liberty League Tournament titles and four NCAA appearances.
“Amber is a great addition to our staff. She has demonstrated her competitive spirit and ability to coach a team to success,” said Runksmeier. “With our new turf field and the community support here at Eastern, I believe she will be a winner here at Eastern.”
“I would like to say thank you to Lori Runksmeier and the entire Eastern athletic staff for this incredible opportunity to lead the Eastern softball program,” Maisonet said in a press release on the ECSU Softball Website. “I am excited to continue building on the program’s winning culture and to bring this team to new heights of success on and off the field.”
Maisonet brings an impressive record to Eastern, posting a 398-172-1 record as the leader of the Engineers.
Maisonet and her coaching staff were named Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year seven times.
Under Maisonet’s guidance, four Engineers have earned All-American honors, five players named Liberty League Player of the Year, four players named Pitcher of the Year and four players named Rookie of the Year. Maisonet has also coach six CSC Academic All-Americans.
As a student-athlete, Maisonet played Division I softball and soccer at the University at Albany, enjoying tremendous success for the Great Danes. She was inducted into the UAlbany Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 2015.
As an outfielder she was a four-year starter and two-year captain who earned All-East First Team recognition every season. She graduated with school career records for hits (233) and runs (151) and ranked in the top five in a number of other categories, including second in stolen bases (96), fourth in batting average (.361) and triples (12), and fifth in RBI (80).
The 2005 America East Rookie of the Year, Maisonet led Albany to three straight America East Championships (2005, 2006, 2007) as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007 when the team advanced to the Regional Final.
Maisonet graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in psychology and a minor in mathematics. She earned a Master’s in Educational Administration from Albany in 2010.
This story will be updated.
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