Softball | 7/24/2025 1:30:00 PM
GENESEO, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation
Dani Drews has announced
Rosie Phillips as the Knights' Softball Head Coach. Phillips becomes Geneseo's sixth head coach in program history, succeeding Dave Sylvester who spent the past 13 years leading the Knights.
"We are excited to add Coach Phillips to the Geneseo family," said Drews. "Rosie brings a wealth of experience as a coach and student-athlete at the Division III level, and we can't wait to see the passion and energy she will bring to our softball program. We are confident she will make an impact on the academic and athletic success of our student-athletes, as well as the Geneseo community."
Phillips joins Geneseo after four seasons at the helm of the St. Lawrence softball program, where she reached the Liberty League playoffs in back-to-back years most recently. This past season, Phillips led the Saints to new single-season program records in hits (317), doubles (56), runs scored (213), total bases (415), and stolen bases (63). On the defensive end, they set a program record in fielding percentage at .959. Additionally, St. Lawrence had two student-athletes earn NFCA All-Region honors as well as 12 earn Liberty League All-Academic and five CSC Academic All-District honorees.
Prior to St. Lawrence, Phillips worked as the Assistant Commissioner/Senior Woman Administrator for the Northwest Conference and was the Head Softball Coach for the Arizona Hotshots Gold, where many of her top players continue on to play for Division I programs. She is also an active member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and Women Leaders in College Sports.
"I am honored and thrilled to have been selected as the next Head Softball Coach at SUNY Geneseo," said Phillips. "When I stepped on campus, it felt like home, and I believe that my coaching style and philosophies really align with the team's goals and investment. I am so impressed with the university's commitment to providing the best athletic and academic experience possible for its student-athletes. I want to sincerely thank Dani Drews, Steve Minton, the search committee, and all those involved in the search process for trusting me to guide a program with such a rich history of excellence. Go Knights!!"
As a student athlete at Cortland, Phillips won three SUNYAC Championships, and in 2017 the Red Dragons were NCAA Regional Champions, where Phillips was named the Regional MVP, First-Team All-Conference, and an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. She graduated from Cortland with her bachelor's degree in 2017 and went on to earn her Masters in 2020.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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