Softball

Meaghan Asselta begins her first year as assistant coach for the Rhode Island softball team. Asselta arrives in Kingston after spending the last three seasons at Manhattan College where she helped turnaround the Jaspers' softball program. In 2009, Asselta helped lead the Jaspers to the Semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship and their first 20-win season since 2006. The Jaspers' trip to the 2009 MAAC Championship was their first appearance in the tournament since 2005. The 2009 squad also turned in a school-record 11 conference wins and earned a share of the MAAC regular season title for the first time in program history. Following the Jaspers' record-breaking campaign, Asselta was named the 2009 Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year. Asselta's 2008 Jaspers improved their win total by seven games over the previous season and finished just one conference win shy of a spot in the MAAC championship. Asselta began her coaching career in 2003 upon graduating from Rutgers University where she played from 2001-03, serving as the team captain in both her junior and senior seasons. From 2003-05, Asselta served as varsity head coach of Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, N.J., where her squad won back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005. Asselta also guided her team a top five ranking in the Newark Star Ledger's end of year softball rankings during each of her three seasons at the helm of the Cougars. From 2005 until her arrival at Manhattan College, the Ramsey, N.J., native served as head coach of the 18U Gold Fall/Summer Pride softball team, a club team that competed in numerous elite College Showcase Tournaments. While at the club level, she coached several players, who received Division I scholarships. During this time, Asselta also served as assistant softball coach at Drew University in Madison N.J. Her duties included calling pitches during games, overseeing infield practice and assisting in all aspects of recruiting.