Tony Ciccarello is taking over as head coach of the Fredonia Blue Devils softball team
Photo courtesy of Melissa Rechin / Photo Editor
CHRISTINA CONCEICAO
Sports Editor
The Fredonia Blue Devils softball team is heading for a fresh start after a rough 2013 season with an overall record of 10-23. Taking over as head coach this year is Tony Ciccarello who is no stranger to SUNYAC play. He has an overall coaching record of 278-193.
Ciccarello, who got the call in early January, is taking over the position from Nicole Loudin who, after coaching for two seasons, resigned in August to become head coach at John Carroll University in Ohio. Ciccarello and Loudin originally applied for the head coach position for Fredonia softball at the same time a few years back.
“I’m really happy to be here. I’m really looking forward to seeing them compete. I’m all about competing and they compete in practice, but I’m happy to be here. I’m hoping I can throw a little life into the program and give them success,” said Ciccarello
He is also very familiar with Fredonia softball as well. His daughter Gabrielle Ciccarello, who graduated in 2012, was on the softball team during her four years at Fredonia.
“She is loving it. She is really happy and in fact she still has a lot of friends here. A couple of the players were on the team when she was a senior and she said something on twitter to some of her friends, ‘oh I need to visit Fredonia.”
Prior to coming to Fredonia, Ciccarello had coached the Geneseo Knights for 11 seasons starting in 2002 and just last year coached at New Paltz. He lead Geneseo to their only SUNYAC title which resulted in them competing in the NCAA Division III tournament in 2002. It was in 2002 as well as 2003 that Ciccarello was named SUNYAC Softball Coach of the Year. In 2003 and 2005, Ciccarello’s Geneseo teams were the winners of the ECAC Upstate Division III title.
“I had great teams. We went to the NCAA my first year and we won the regular season my second year. We lost — what — three conference games my first two years I was there?” said Ciccarello.
While at New Paltz last year, he coached the Hawks to qualify for the conference tournament for the first time in three years. The Hawks had an overall record of 20-19 with a SUNYAC record of 11-7. Their 11 conference wins were the most that the Hawks earned since their 2008 season.
With a new season starting very soon Ciccarello is making changes — and hopefully for the better.
“I expect them to play better, play my style ball, which we are working on,” he said. “I think you’re going to see a different type of team. They’re enjoying practice.”
The roster this year is comprised of one freshman, seven sophomores, five juniors and one fifth-year senior.
“I haven’t written a line-up yet, but I’ve been talking to them and where they pretty much stand. I’m starting to figure out who is going to play where and when. Some are playing all the time, others aren’t playing much and others are playing part time,” said Ciccarello.
The Blue Devils will be spending their spring break in sunny Clermont, Florida, participating in the Dot Richardson Spring Games. Their first game is March 16 against Trinity College. While in Florida Ciccarello will be coaching against his daughter, Gabrielle, who is the athletic assistant for the softball team at Utica College.
“It’s going to be fun — better than when I had to coach against her when I was at Geneseo and she was here, and I had to coach against her for four years. We’re out of conference so it will be a lot more fun, way more relaxed. I hated that game, playing Fredonia, because I wanted my daughter to do well but at the same time I wanted to do well. So it is going to be fun,” said Ciccarello.
The Blue Devils will be starting their SUNYAC play on Saturday, March 29 against Buffalo State.