Caldwell College Women's Softball

Lindsay Mayer is entering her third season as head coach at Caldwell University. Mayer came to Caldwell in 2023 following stints as head coach at Arcadia (Pa.) University and assistant at Division I College of the Holy Cross, Hofstra University and Wagner College. In her first year, Mayer led the Cougars to a 25-22 record and berth in the CACC Tournament. Caldwell ranked 27th in the nation in batting (.326) while two players placed in the top 40 in batting (Grace Vondracek, 2nd, .493; Ashleigh Tavaska, 39th, .430). Last year, the Cougars won 24 of their last 38 games, and had two All-American honorees in Vondracek (D2CCA Second Team) and Tavaska (NFCA Third Team), 18 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, three All-East Region performers and the CACC Player of the Year (Tavaska). A 2017 graduate of Fordham University, Mayer was a two-time NFCA Third Team All-Region selection, Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, Two-Time All-A-10, and a CoSIDA Academic All-American for the Rams after a year at the University of Virginia. The Lincoln, R.I., native was a two-time Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 at Lincoln H.S. In addition to a communications degree from Fordham, she earned her Master’s from Hofstra in 2019.   Overall CACC Year Wins Losses Wins Losses Postseason 2024 25 22 11 11 CACC First Round 2025 24 24 13 9 CACC First Round Total 49 46 24 20

T.J. Kroncke was named Head Coach for the inaugural season of the Caldwell University Flag Football program in November 2025. Kroncke, who has also served as the defensive line coach for Caldwell University’s sprint football team since 2024, also coached flag football at Lyndhurst H.S. for the past two seasons. The 2006 graduate of Montclair State who earned Master’s degrees at the University of Texas in 2010 and American College of Education in 2021, began his coaching career at Paramus Catholic H.S. in 2010, mentoring running backs and the junior varsity team for four years. He moved on to Wood Ridge H.S., where he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2014-2018. He took over as head coach at Palisades Park/Leonia H.S. in 2018, leading the Tigers for four seasons. “I’m excited to take on this new chapter in Caldwell University Athletics,” said Kroncke.

Jeff Bliss enters his first year as Caldwell University Sprint Football assistant coach, but his local playing and coaching experience date back a quarter century. A first-team All-Bergen County running back and linebacker and 2005 graduate of New Milford High School, Bliss went on to play in the backfield at Montclair State University, captaining his senior team and graduating in 2010. He coached for one year at Indian Hills High School before returning as coach at his alma mater NMHS from 2011 through 2023. Bliss also coached wrestling at Riverdell and NMHS for 12 years and is currently the head coach of the boys outdoor track team there, while teaching middle school physical education and health since 2011.  Bliss, who earned a Master's in Educational Leadership at MSU in 2017, lives in River Edge with his wife Megan and their daughters Layla (6) and Riley (4).

Robert Guerriero comes to Caldwell with a wealth of professional, collegiate and youth softball coaching experience. He was most recently the head coach at St. John's, where he led the Red Storm from 2018 until this past spring. He had served as assistant there since 2013. During his head coaching tenure at SJU, Guerriero helped develop 21 All-BIG EAST performers, including the league's 2019 Freshman of the Year. The Red Storm won the 2019 BIG EAST regular season title as Guerriero and his staff were named the conference's Coaching Staff of the Year. Guerriero previously served as assistant coach at Seton Halll from 1999-2013, helping the Pirates to BIG EAST Championship in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005, 2007 (winning BIG EAST Titles in 2004 and 2005), and three NCAA Tournament berths. He has also had stints as an assistant for the NY/NJ Comets pro fastpitch team as well as coach and president of the Girls Softball League of Westfield (N.J.).

Nick Serpico returns for his third season as assistant coach and has more than 20 years of high school and collegiate coaching experience. A 2003 graduate of Montclair State University, where he played wide receiver and punter, Serpico began his coaching career at nearby Verona HS from 2004-2008, later coaching at Bloomfield HS, Lyndhurst HS and Dwight Morrow HS before his final local stop, Clifton HS, where he helped lead the Mustangs to the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 State Championship in 2021. He has been an integral part of the Cougars Sprint Football program under Jim Kelly and now moves into a role under new coach Louie Matsakis for 2024. Serpico was a First Team All-State selection as a senior at Verona HS in 1998, competing as a tight end, safety, kicker and punter for the Hillbillies.  He also serves as an assistant track and field coach at Caldwell. Serpico currently lives in North Arlington, N.J., with his wife Kara. He has a daughter, Cameron, 26, and son, Jaxon, 11.

Peter Brand joined the Caldwell Sprint Football coaching staff in August 2024, bringing more than a decade of experience at area high schools.  Coach Brand was most recently the offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at Jefferson Township High School after stints at Livingston, Pope John, West Orange and Butler, dating back to 2011.  As a player at Butler HS, he was a three-year starter and named first Team all area, all county, and all group for the State Championship finalist Bulldog. In his final season he threw for more than 3,000 yards and 30 TDs. He continued his playing career at Delaware Valley University. The 2011 graduate of DVU lives in Bloomingdale, N.J., with his wife Ashley and son Colton (2).

Robert Lomoriello begins his first year on the Cougars sidelines after nearly 20 years as assistant coach at area high schools. The 2025 Monmouth University graduate had stints at Butler (seven years), West Orange (six) and Pequannock (five) in various roles before joining the CU staff in 2024. Lomoriello, a 2001 graduate of Pequannock HS, was a three year starter at defensive back and running back for the Golden Panthers, then was a three-year starter at cornerback for NCAA Division I FCS Monmouth University from 2003-2005. His PHS squads went a combined 33-3, winning State Sectional Championships in 1999 and 2000. He was a Second Team All-Northeast Conference selection at MU for the two-time league champions in 2003 and 2004. The Pompton Plains native, who also earned his Master's at Marygrove University in 2009, lives with his wife Lauren and son Owen (12) and daughter Leah (10).