Alfred University Women's Softball

  Hired at AU: Fall 2015 Prior to AU: Assistant Coach at Bucknell University (2015) Assistant Coach at Susquehanna University (2011-2015) Head Coach at Williamsport High School (2008-2010) Head Coach at Canton High School (2003-2007) Alma Mater: Lycoming '97, Lock Haven '01, Wilkes '06 Personal: A native of Canton, PA, he and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Chloe and Tatum.   Wesneski came to AU as the sixth Head Coach in the program's history from Division I Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, where he served as a volunteer assistant during September of 2015. Since becoming the Head Coach at AU, Wesneski has amassed a record of 245-139-1, only missing one Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament. Wesneski and the Saxons have won the Empire 8 Championship on three occasions. Wesneski is the only coach in program history to win multiple Empire 8 Championships. Over the course of the 2026 season, the Saxons captured their fourth Empire 8 Championship under Wesneski following an undefeated streak in the postseason. Alfred University defeated No. 4 Nazareth, No. 2 St. John Fisher and No. 1 SUNY Geneseo before claiming an additional victory over the Cardinals on the final day of competition. Alfred University proceeded to face nationally-ranked programs in No. 18 Tufts and No. 25 Middlebury at the NCAA Tournament Regional. The Saxons ended the year with a 29-15 overall record, including 18 victories from Empire 8 competition. Alfred University was led by the likes of Samantha Vidal '27, who was named as the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and was one of seven Saxons to earn All-Empire 8 honors.  As part of a historic 2025 season, Alfred University secured the Empire 8 Championship following an undefeated run in the postseason. The Saxons defeated No. 5 Nazareth University and No. 4 Utica University before sweeping No. 1 St. John Fisher University in 6-4 and 5-2 fashion. AU picked up one win, defeating Farmingdale State College in extra innings, as part of the NCAA Tournament Regional in Newport News, VA. The Saxons finished with a 33-11 overall record, marking the second-most wins in a single season in program history. AU broke multiple school records as a team. Alfred University was led by the likes of Jessica Remm '26, who became the seventh player in program history to receive NFCA All-American honors. Remm was additionally named as the ECAC Player of the Year, an NFCA All-Region First Team honoree, and the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year.  During the 2022 season, Wesneski and the Saxons won the Empire 8 Championship following a 9-0 win over No. 2 seeded St. John Fisher in Game 7 of the championship final. AU won one game, defeating No. 4 Waynesburg University 6-1 in the second game of the NCAA Tournament Regional in Union, NJ. The Saxons ended the campaign with a 26-16 record, marking their 16th consecutive season in which they have finished with a winning record. A total of six softball student-athletes received All-Empire 8 honors, with Meghan Neto '25 being named as the Empire 8 Softball Rookie of the Year.  The 2021 season saw the Saxons win its second Empire 8 Championship in program history after defeating No. 14 St. John Fisher 7-5 in the championship final. AU won one game, defeating Piedmont (Ga.) 3-0 in the first game of the NCAA Tournament Regional in Eau Claire, Wis. The team finished with a 32-11 record - the 32 wins being the third-highest mark in program history following the 2010 (37-8) and 2015 (40-7) squads. The Saxons finished with a program-record 113 stolen bases, 367 strikeouts, and tied the 2010 squad with 12 shutouts. A program-record three players: Jessica Wilcox '21, Ashley Lugo '22, and Allison O'Toole '22 earned NFCA All-America honors. 10 softball student-athletes earned All-Empire 8 honors, with Wilcox earning Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year honors and Mya Wells '24 earning Empire 8 Rookie of the Year honors.   On March 12, 2020, Wesneski became just the second coach in program history to win his 100th game, a 1-0 walk-off victory against The College of Wooster. Prior to taking an assistant’s position at Bucknell, Wesneski served as assistant softball coach at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure at Susquehanna, the Crusaders (now River Hawks) 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. In five years as an assistant coach at Susquehanna, the team amassed a record of 149-57. 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 instructed at camps at Bucknell, Susquehanna, Mercyhurst and Colgate. He has also worked camps in New Jersey, Maryland and California. Prior to coaching, Wesneski played men's fast pitch for 15 years. 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).   National Team Accolades: - 2026 Team Ranked #9 in Nation for Home Runs (39) NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2026, 2025, 2022, 2021 Empire 8 Championship Wins: 2026, 2025, 2022, 2021 Empire 8 Conference Championship Appearances: 2026, 2025, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016   NFCA All-America Honors: 5 NFCA All-Region Honors: 27 ECAC All-Region Honors: 5 Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 71 Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year Honorees: 3 Empire 8 Pitcher of the Year Honorees: 2 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Honorees: 3 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year: 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: 18   Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2026 29-15 (.659) 18-4 (.818) 4-2 (4-0 Empire 8, 0-2 NCAA) Empire 8 Champions; NCAA Division III Softball Regionals 2025 33-11 (.750) 18-4 (.818) 5-2 (4-0 Empire 8, 1-2 NCAA) Empire 8 Champions; NCAA Division III Softball Regionals 2024 27-14 (.659) 12-2 (.857) 1-2 Empire 8 Championship Semifinalst 2023 25-14-1 (.638) 14-2 (.875) 1-2 Empire 8 Championship Semifinalist 2022 26-16 (.619) 11-3 (.786) 4-5 (3-1 Empire 8, 1-2 NCAA) Empire 8 Champions; NCAA Division III Softball Regionals 2021 32-11 (.744) 15-5 (.750) 5-3 (4-1 Empire 8, 1-2 NCAA) Empire 8 Champions; NCAA Division III Softball Regionals 2020 7-5 (.583) 0-0 N/A N/A (Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic) 2019 23-20 (.535) 9-5 (.643) 3-2 Empire 8 Championship Finalist 2018 22-19 (.537) 8-6 (.571) 1-2 Empire 8 Championship Semifinalist 2017 21-17 (.553) 7-7 (.500) N/A 5th (of 8) 2016 29-12 (.707) 9-5 (.643) 1-2 Empire 8 Championship Semifinalist Overall Totals 274-154-1 (.640) 121-43 (.743) 25-22 (.532) --

  Hired at AU: August of 2024 Prior to AU: Assistant Junior Director at Midtown Athletic Club Alma Mater: Houghton '21 Fisler joined Alfred University as the Men's and Women's Tennis Head Coach in August of 2024.  In just his second season with the Alfred University men's tennis team, Fisler and the Saxons reached the Empire 8 Championship Finals. With a 14-6 overall record, Alfred University set the program record for single-season wins. During the 2025-26 men's season, four Saxons earned All-Empire 8 honors, including André López Jiménez '29 being named as the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. López Jiménez set the program record with 21 doubles wins as an individual, joining teammate Breece Erickson '27 for a program-best 14 victories. López Jiménez additionally finished the season with 37 total wins, which stands as a single-season program record.  For the women's side during the 2025-26 season, the Saxons finished with an 14-6 overall record. The 14 total victories for the Saxons marked a program record. As a team, Alfred University totaled a program-high 72 wins from singles action, while totaling 31 victories from doubles. A total of five Saxons earned All-Empire 8 honors, with Alina Zabihailo '26 earning First Team recognition.  Prior to AU, Fisler was the Assistant Junior Director at the Midtown Athletic Club. Fisler was previously the assistant program manager, tennis instructor and tournament director of the organization. His core responsibilities included overseeing day-to-day operations, running group and individual lessons, and executing select tournaments in the Greater Rochester Area. Fisler is familiar with the Empire 8 conference, having competed with Houghton University as a member of the men’s tennis program from 2016-21. During his time with the Highlanders, Fisler was an All-Empire 8 and All-American talent. Competing towards the top of the lineup in doubles and singles action during his fifth-year season, Fisler and Houghton won the 2020-21 Empire 8 Championship.    While attending Houghton, Fisler served as a student assistant coach for the women’s tennis program during the 2019-20 season. That season, the Highlanders clinched their first-ever program appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament.   Men's Tennis Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 9 Women's Tennis Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 7 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: 12   Men's Tennis Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2025-26 14-6 (.700) 6-2 (.750) 2-1 (.667) Empire 8 Championship Finalists 2024-25 1-14 (.067) 0-6 (.000) -- 5th (of 5) Overall Total 15-20 (.429) 6-8 (.429) 2-1 (.667) -- Women's Tennis Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2025-26 14-6 (.700) 5-3 (.625) 1-1 (.500) Empire 8 Championship Semifinalists 2024-25 3-12 (.200) 2-6 (.250) -- 7th (of 9) Overall Total 17-18 (.486) 7-9 (.438) 1-1 (.500) --  

Hired at AU: - Graduate Assistant: August of 2021 - Assistant Coach: December of 2023 Alma Mater: - Calumet College of St. Joseph '21 - Alfred University '23 Cassie Reed was hired as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the AU softball team in August, 2021 and was promoted to Assistant Coach in 2024. Reed assists Head Coach Luke Wesneski with recruiting, game and practice planning, player development, fundraising, and travel logistics. Since joining the coaching staff in 2021, the Saxons have made the Empire 8 postseason in each of the previous six seasons, winning four Empire 8 Championships. In the Empire 8 Championship Tournament during that stretch, Alfred University has accumulated a 15-2 overall record.  Reed comes to Alfred after a solid four-year playing career at Calumet College of St. Joseph. Reed, a utility player, played in 102 career games. As a senior in 2021, Reed tallied 22 hits, leading the team with 14 walks, and finished third on the team with 16 runs batted in. A great fielder, Reed was named Defensive Player of the Year by the CCSJ softball team.   Reed, a Colorado Springs, Colorado native, is also stellar in the classroom. Reed is a three-time Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, which honors athletes who achieve a 3.5 or better grade point average. She graduated with magna cum laude honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in human services. Reed has also been very busy around campus and in the community. Reed served as a student assistant in CCSJ’s athletic department for the last four years and served as Student Government President in the 2020-21 school year. She has volunteered her time in the community with Habitat for Humanity and the I’m Not Just a Name Children’s Resource Center. Reed also worked as a Tour Ambassador with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center from 2018-2020, promoting awareness and positive recognition of the Olympic and Paralympic movement through community relations.  

Hired at AU: Spring of 2026 Layne Reed joined the Alfred University softball coaching staff prior to the 2026 season as an assistant coach.  Over the course of the 2026 season, the Saxons captured the Empire 8 Championship following an undefeated streak in the postseason. Alfred University defeated No. 4 Nazareth, No. 2 St. John Fisher and No. 1 SUNY Geneseo before claiming an additional victory over the Cardinals on the final day of competition. Alfred University proceeded to face nationally-ranked programs in No. 18 Tufts and No. 25 Middlebury at the NCAA Tournament Regional. The Saxons ended the year with a 29-15 overall record, including 18 victories from Empire 8 competition.

Hired at AU: Spring of 2026 Sophie Kreese joined the Alfred University softball coaching staff prior to the 2026 season as an assistant coach.  Over the course of the 2026 season, the Saxons captured the Empire 8 Championship following an undefeated streak in the postseason. Alfred University defeated No. 4 Nazareth, No. 2 St. John Fisher and No. 1 SUNY Geneseo before claiming an additional victory over the Cardinals on the final day of competition. Alfred University proceeded to face nationally-ranked programs in No. 18 Tufts and No. 25 Middlebury at the NCAA Tournament Regional. The Saxons ended the year with a 29-15 overall record, including 18 victories from Empire 8 competition.