MEACHAM CHOSEN TO LEAD SAINT ROSE SOFTBALL PROGRAM
Ali Meacham will assume the head coaching duties of The College of Saint Rose softball program.
David Alexander
6/18/2010 1:42:25 PM
ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose announced today that Ali Meacham has been named the head softball coach. She will take over a program that just completed its inaugural year of competition at the College’s new Plumeri Sports Complex.
An outstanding former student-athlete, Meacham was a four-year letterwinner at the University at Albany and the starting catcher on the Great Danes 2005 and 2006 America East Conference championship squads. The Monroe, NY native garnered first-team All-League honors both years as well. Additionally, she was an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 1 Academic All-America® pick as senior in 2006 and a second-team honoree as a junior.
“This is a very exciting time for Saint Rose softball. I am confident that my coaching staff will drive the team to be successful on and off the field. The new facilities and school are beautiful and to have the opportunity to coach in the same city as my alma mater is a dream come true for me,” said Meacham.
Meacham has spent the past two years as an assistant coach at the University of New Haven after spending the 2007-08 academic year as an assistant at nearby Rensselaer.
This past season, the Chargers were ranked #16 in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II top-25 poll. The Chargers, who are a member of the Northeast-10 Conference along with Saint Rose, furthermore set a school record with 42 victories (42-8) and won the NE-10 regular-season title behind a 26-2 league mark.
“We are excited to have Ali join our staff and the Saint Rose community. Ali’s experiences as a successful student-athlete at UAlbany and as a member of the coaching staff at nationally ranked New Haven should serve her well as she begins her coaching career at Saint Rose,” said Athletics Director Cathy Haker.
Meacham owns a master’s degree in higher education administration and a bachelor’s in English from UAlbany. She worked as an assistant manager in the equipment room for the Great Danes 19 intercollegiate athletics programs throughout her two years as a graduate student. She also assisted with a variety of tasks during the New York Giants summer training camp held on the UAlbany campus.
In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Meacham served as the head athletic equipment manager at New Haven. She is Equipment Manager Certified (EMC) and is also a member of the NFCA.