NEW ROCHELLE, NY— Iona University softball head coach
Carla Campagna announced the appointment of two assistant coaches on Thursday.
Lou Vanacore and
Tierney Fitzgerald join the Maroon & Gold after serving on Campagna's staff at Adelphi.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to have Coach Lou and Coach Tierney join me at Iona," said Campagna. "Their combined coaching and playing experience are going to make an immediate impact to this program and team."
LOU VANACORE
Vanacore spent five seasons at Adelphi alongside Campagna including two seasons as the lead assistant coach. He oversaw pitching, catching and hitting instruction of the Panthers. During his tenure, the team won two NE10 Tournament championships, four NCAA Division II tournament appearances and a NCAA Division II National championship appearance.
In the 2023 season, Vanacore worked with a pitching staff that led the country with a blistering 9.78 strikeout to walk ratio and ranked third nationally with a 1.19 earned run average. He helped lead Lindsey Hibbs to being named D2CCA East Region and National Pitcher of the Year in addition to First Team All-America status from both NFCA and D2CCA. The success in the circle led Adelphi to a record-tying 47 wins and its second-consecutive NE10 Championship.
Vanacore was named the NFCA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022, working with two All-Americans in Hibbs and Claire Fon on a pitching staff. The Panther pitching staff led the the nation with 27 shutouts and 6.93 strikeout to walk ratio. He joined joined Campagna in being named the NFCA Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, after capturing the NE10 Championship and NCAA Division II East Region title. The team garnered the No. 2 seed at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship.
In his first full season with Adelphi, Vanacore was a part of a staff that led the Panthers to 30 wins in 40 games and went on to an NCAA East Regional semifinal appearance. Ally Muller was named an NFCA Second Team All-American in 2021. Prior to joining Adelphi, Vanacore was a member of the LIU Post staff that was named 2019 NFCA Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year after berth in the NCAA Division II National Championship and the No. 1 overall seed.
The Hicksville, NY native graduated from St. John's with a degree in Fine Arts.
CAMPAGNA'S THOUGHTS
"Coach Lou brings over thirty years of coaching experience, with eight years of coaching experience at the collegiate level specifying in pitching, catching, and hitting. His attention to detail and passion for coaching is what makes him one of a kind," said Campagna. "Coach Lou has and will transform the battery with his continued dedication and love for the game."
TIERNEY FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald started her coaching career in 2024 at Adelphi. The Williston Park, NY native spent her postgraduate season as a two-way player for the Panthers in 2023.
In her first season coaching, she worked with the Adelphi pitchers while assisting with defense and recruiting. Last year, the Panthers reached the NE-10 championship game and a NCAA East Super Regional appearance. Fitzgerald produced a 1.91 earned-run average in 40.1 innings pitched in 2023, her final collegiate season with Adelphi. In the final month of the season went 2-0 with two saves and 0.87 ERA in helping the team earn the NE10 Tournament title.
She was a four-year starter at St. Bonaventure from 2019-2022, playing in 100 games with 90 starts. Fitzgerald made 44 career appearances in the circle and 191 career at-bats. In 2021, she led the team in innings pitched and tied for team lead in strikeouts.
Fitzgerald earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from St. Bonaventure and master of arts degree in health education from Adelphi this past May.
CAMPAGNA'S THOUGHTS
"Coach Tierney will be assisting with our defense, specifically our infield. I have known Coach Tierney since she was about ten years old, and she would come to my college's camps when I was a student-athlete," said Campagna. "Her dedication to the game at this level and all younger levels are what makes her an exceptional teacher of the game and commitment to this sport. To have her join my staff, it is an absolute pleasure, and I know that she leaves her mark with this team and program."
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