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Marist University Athletics

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Head Coach Ausanio Headshot

Joe Ausanio

Joe Ausanio is in his 18th season as head coach of the Marist softball program in 2026. A former Major League Baseball player, Ausanio has transformed the Red Foxes into a consistent winner while his student-athletes have earned numerous accolades on the playing field and in the classroom.

The Red Foxes are coming off their best season in program history in 2025. Ausanio led the NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year along with assistant coaches Kristin Erb and Alyssa Grupp. The Red Foxes won a program-record 48 games, won both the MAAC regular-season and tournament championships, and earned their first NCAA Regional victory in program history. 

 
Marist Highlights
  • Team has made four NCAA Regional appearances (2013, 2016, 2023, 2025).
  • Five MAAC regular-season championships (2014, 2016, 2019, 2024, 2025).
  • One NCAA Regional victory (2025).
  • Five-time MAAC Coach of the Year (2011, 2016, 2019, 2024, 2025).
  • Named to MAAC 40th Anniversary Team as one of three head coaches.
  • 2025 team set program record with 48 wins.
  • Team had seven straight winning seasons from 2011-17.
  • Is winningest coach (479 wins through 2025) and longest-tenured (17 years through 2025) in program history.
  • Previously had served as the program’s pitching coach in 2007. The 2026  season marks his 19th overall with the program.
MAAC Awards
  • MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year (1): 2025 - Kiley Myers.
  • Player of the Year (4): 2025 - Miah McDonald, 2024 - Miah McDonald, 2023 - Maddie Pleasants, 2009 – Melissa Giordano.
  • Pitcher of the Year (4): 2025 - Maddie Pleasants, 2024 - Kiley Myers (Co-Pitcher), 2016 – Jayne Oberdorf, 2015 – Melanie White.
  • Rookie of the Year (9): 2024 - Anna Sidlowski, 2023 - Haley Ahr, 2022 - Maddie Pleasants (Co-Rookie), 2019 - Calista Phippen (Co-Rookie), 2018 - Caroline Baratta, 2016 – Claire Oberdorf, 2013 – Nicole Cheek, 2009 – Nicole DiVirgilio (Co-Rookie).
  • Defensive Player of the Year (5): 2024 - Haley Ahr, 2022 - Caroline Baratta, 2021 - Caroline Baratta, 2018 - Brittany Colombo, 2016 – Kyrsten Van Natta.
  • First Team All-MAAC selections (39): 2025 - Haley Ahr, Miah McDonald, Kiley Myers, Peyton Pusey; 2024 - Haley Ahr, Alyssa Grupp, Miah McDonald, Kiley Myers, Maddie Pleasants, Peyton Pusey; 2023 - Haley Ahr, Maddie Pleasants; 2022 - Caroline Baratta, Miah McDonald; 2021 - Caroline Baratta, Kaley Coltrain; 2019 - Caroline Baratta, Ali Milam, Calista Phippen; 2018 - Caroline Baratta, Ali Milam; 2017 – Rebecca Freeman, Janna Korak, Kourtney Paul; 2016 – Jayne Oberdorf, Claire Oberdorf, Kyrsten Van Natta, Maureen Duddy; 2015 – Melanie White; 2014 – Kyrsten Van Natta, Taylor Kuzma; 2013 – Danielle Koltz, Nicole Cheek; 2012 – Alyssa Zahka, Ashley Corriss; 2011 – Nicole DiVirgilio; 2009 – Melissa Giordano, Jessica Green, Caitlin Carpentier.
  • Second Team All-MAAC selections (38): 2025 - Sienna Kunze, Maddie Pleasants, Samantha Rogers; 2023 - Sam Freeland, Peyton Pusey, Kiley Myers; 2022 - Alyssa Grupp, Calista Phippen, Shea Walsh; 2021 - Ali Milam, Calista Phippen; 2019 - Kaley Coltrain, Brandi Coon, Claire Oberdorf; 2018 - Claire Oberdorf; 2017 – Brandi Coon, Gabrielle Kelliher; 2016 – Janna Korak, Colleen McWilliams, Gabrielle Kelliher, Jessica Van Alphen; 2015 – Maureen Duddy, Kyrsten Van Natta, Colleen McWilliams, Janine Lalli; 2014 – Maureen Duddy, Janna Korak; 2013 – Alyssa Zahka, Emily Osterhaus; 2012 – Megan Lamoureux, Nicole DiVirgilio, Danielle Koltz; 2011 – Megan Lamoureux, Ashley Corriss, Sarah Carmody, Emily Osterhaus; 2010 – Nicole DiVirgilio; 2009 – Nicole DiVirgilio.
  • All-MAAC Rookie selections (16): 2025 - Sienna Kunze; 2024 - Samantha Rogers, Anna Sidlowski; 2023 - Haley Ahr, Peyton Pusey; 2022 - Maddie Pleasants, 2021 - Miah McDonald; 2019 - Calista Phippen, Kaley Coltrain; 2018 - Caroline Baratta; 2016 – Claire Oberdorf, Megan Beiermeister, Brandi Coon, Casey Page; 2015 – Gabrielle Kelliher, Samantha Reilly.
 
NFCA Awards
  • Earned NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2025.
  • Calista Phippen named to Top 25 NFCA Freshman list in 2019.
  • Claire Oberdorf named to Top 10 NFCA Freshman list in 2016.
  • NFCA All-Region selections (28): 2025 - 2024 - Haley Ahr (First Team), Peyton Pusey (First Team), Alyssa Grupp (Second Team), Miah McDonald (Second Team), Maddie Pleasants (Second Team), Kiley Myers (Third Team); 2023 - Haley Ahr (Second Team), Kiley Myers (Second Team), Maddie Pleasants (Second Team), Peyton Pusey (Second Team), Sam Freeland (Third Team); 2019 - Calista Phippen (Second Team), Ali Milam (Second Team), Kaley Coltrain (Third Team); 2018 - Ali Milam (Second Team); 2017 – Janna Korak (First Team), Brandi Coon (Second Team), Gabrielle Kelliher (Second Team); 2016 – Claire Oberdorf (First Team), Jayne Oberdorf (First Team), Maureen Duddy (Second Team), Kyrsten Van Natta (Second Team); 2009 – Melissa Giordano (First Team).
 
Academic Success
  • Academic All-American selections (4): 2025 - Miah McDonald (First Team), Haley Ahr (Second Team); 2017 – Gabrielle Kelliher (Second Team); 2009 – Melissa Giordano (Third Team).
  • CSC/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team selections (29): 2025 - Haley Ahr, Miah McDonald, Kiley Myers, Peyton Pusey, Samantha Rogers; 2024 - Haley Ahr; Alyssa Grupp, Miah McDonald, Kiley Myers, Peyton Pusey; 2023 - Alyssa Grupp, Kaitlyn Husic, Kiley Myers, Calista Phippen, Shea Walsh; 2022 - Caroline Baratta, Calista Phippen, Shea Walsh; 2021 - Caroline Baratta, Shea Walsh; 2019 - Brandi Coon (First Team); 2018 - Brandi Coon (First Team); 2017 – Brandi Coon (First Team), Gabrielle Kelliher (First Team); 2016 – Gabrielle Kelliher (First Team), Kyrsten Van Natta (First Team); 2012 – Sarah Carmody (First Team); 2011 – Sarah Carmody (Second Team); 2009 – Melissa Giordano (First Team).
  • 164 MAAC All-Academic Team selections. 
Baseball Playing Career
  • Pitched in the Major Leagues in 1994 and 1995 as a reliever for the New York Yankees. Appeared in 41 career games with a 4-1 record and one save. His first Major League strikeout occurred against Alex Rodriguez. Teammates included Wade Boggs, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, and Bernie Williams.
  • Pitched professionally from 1988 through 1997. In addition to the Yankees, he also pitched in the organizations of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies.
  • Following retirement, was invited to Yankees’ batting practice to throw a knuckleball when the team was preparing to face knuckleballer Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox.
  • Was drafted twice – by the Atlanta Braves (1984, 30th round) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1988, 11th round).
  • Played collegiately at Jacksonville (1985-88). Graduated as the program’s all-time leader in saves and appearances.
 
Career Record
Year Overall MAAC Notes
2025 48-9-1 21-2-1 MAAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions
2024 36-19 17-6 MAAC Regular Season Champions
2023 29-30 12-8 MAAC Tournament Champions
2022         25-30 11-9
2021         15-12         12-10
2020         10-9 Season cut short due to COVID-19.
2019 35-22 16-4 MAAC Regular Season Champions
2018 27-32 9-11
2017 37-22 13-7
2016 45-13 16-4 MAAC Regular Season & Tournament Champions
2015 28-26 11-9
2014 27-24 16-4 MAAC Regular Season Champions
2013 30-26 10-6 MAAC Tournament Champions
2012 28-27 9-7
2011 33-22 12-4
2010 10-35 4-12
2009 16-33 9-7
Total 479-391-1 (.550) 198-110-1 (.642)
 
Personal
  • Earned a B.S. from Jacksonville University in Kinesiology.
  • Native of Kingston, NY.
  • Joe and his wife, Caroline, reside in New Windsor, NY. Together, they have four children: Joey, Kevin, Michael, and Christina.

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