Alfred Appoints Luke Wesneski as Softball Coach
ALFRED, NY – Alfred University Director of Athletics
Paul Vecchio announces the appointment of Luke Wesneski as the Saxons' new women's softball coach.
Wesneski, whose appointment is effective Dec. 2, comes to AU from Division I Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, where he has served as a volunteer assistant since September. He replaces former head coach Gino Olivieri, who resigned his position at AU in September to take over head coaching duties at Coppin State (MD) University.
Prior to taking an assistant's position at Bucknell, Wesneski served as assistant softball coach at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. During Wesneski's tenure at Susquehanna, the Crusaders went 40-9 and won a Landmark Conference championship in 2013, qualifying for the NCAA tournament and placing third in regional play. Susquehanna hosted the Landmark Conference championship tournament four straight years (2012-15) while Wesneski served as an assistant under former head coach Kathy Kroupa. Twice (2012 and 2014), the Crusaders were awarded Coaching Staff of the Year honors by the Landmark Conference.
"I am very excited to have Luke take the reins of our very successful Saxon softball program," Vecchio said. "Like our program here at AU, during his time at Susquehanna he was part of a championship culture where competing for conference championships and NCAA appearances was a yearly expectation and occurrence."
"I would like to thank
Paul Vecchio, the search committee and Alfred University for the opportunity to become part of a wonderful program," Wesneski added. "This Saxon team has been playing and competing at a high level for years, in and out of the classroom, and my goal is not to disrupt that, but to build upon it and continue it. Coach Olivieri was a very well respected coach and campus community member and I truly respect what he was able to do with this program during his tenure."
Prior to his time at Susquehanna, Wesneski was a successful high school coach in Central Pennsylvania, leading the Canton High School team from 2003-07 and Williamsport High School team from 2008-10. He also organized the Fall College Classic, a round-robin fall tournament for college teams held in Sunbury, PA, (in conjunction with the Pennsylvania ASA Hall of Fame) from 2011-14. He has worked at camps at Bucknell and Susquehanna and also in New Jersey and Maryland.
Wesneski has spent the last seven years as academic specialist in Susquehanna University's Center for Academic Achievement, serving as a study skills specialist and academic mentor as well as an athletics department liaison.
Vecchio said that that under Wesneski's leadership, the AU softball team is poised to build on its accomplishments of recent years and its players will continue to succeed as student-athletes.
"Luke has tremendous passion for softball, for the recruitment and development of quality student-athletes, understands the importance of academics through his work as an academic counselor at Susquehanna, and is tremendously respected by those who he has worked with," Vecchio said. "I am confident that AU softball will continue to flourish under his leadership."
Wesneski cited his "passion for the sport, attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile for my players" as being among his strengths as a coach.
"The goals and expectations for this team are high and I am excited to get started and help them realize those goals," he said. "I am looking forward to working with a great group of student athletes, as well as a very supportive athletics department that has a clear vision."
Alfred is coming off the best season in program history, winning a school-record 40 games (40-7 overall record) and winning its first-ever outright Empire 8 Conference title (13-1 E8 record) and Empire 8 Championship tournament. The Saxons hosted and won an NCAA regional tournament, then advanced from Super Regional play to the NCAA Division III championship tournament in Salem, VA. AU would finish ninth in the final NFCA Division III national rankings. Eight of 10 starters return from the 2015 squad, and are joined by a recruiting class of eight freshmen and one junior college transfer.
Wesneski has bachelor's degrees in criminal justice from Lycoming College (1997) and education from Lock Haven University (2001) and a master's degree in education from Wilkes University (2006). A native of Canton, PA, he and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Chloe and Tatum.