Fordham University Women's Softball

The 2026 Softball season will mark the eight for Melissa Inouye as Head Coach of the program, coming off the Rams’ third trip to the Atlantic 10 Championship game under her tutelage. In her seven years thus far, Inouye has led the Rams to a pair of Atlantic 10 titles, including the program's seventh straight in 2019, a season that coincided with her earning Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year accolades. A former assistant at Fordham under long-time head coach Bridget Orchard in 2012, Inouye claimed her second conference crown in 2022, leading the program to its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance all-time. A trio of players would light up the statsheet throughout the year during the 2025 campaign, with Sydney Wells, Neleh Nogay, and Holly Beeman setting numerous single season records, while ranked amongst the national leaders in a variety of categories for much of the campaign. Upsetting both the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds at the A-10 Championship in Washington D.C. Fordham would advance to the title game for the first time since winning in 2022, falling in a pair of pitchers duels via walk-offs on championship Sunday. Wells would tally one of the best offensive seasons in program history, setting single season Top-10 marks in six different categories, including hits, walks, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. At season’s end the Rams took home 10 total All-Conference accolades awarded to seven different players, the second most awards ever for Fordham Softball in a single year. In 2024, the Rams once again reached the postseason, with the offense clinching all-season long, rattling off the sixth most doubles of any team in the country, and the third most by a Fordham team in program history, with four different players rattling off 12 or more doubles on the year. The spring of 2023 saw Neleh Nogay became just the eighth player in program history to be named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team as a freshman.  Nogay and fellow freshman Holly Beeman earned All-Rookie honors as the Rams qualified for their 20th consecutive Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Rams posted a banner year in 2021, going 37-10 overall and 17-3 in league play to earn the no. 2 seed at the A-10 Championship. Fordham's season came to a close with a loss to eventual champion, George Washington. Still, the Rams saw six student-athletes garner All-Conference honors in May - Devon Miller was named Rookie of the Year along with First Team All-Conference and All-Rookie, while Brianna Pinto and Sarah Taffet were named to the Second Team, Bella Ayala and Bailey Enoch to the All-Rookie team, and Madie Aughinbaugh to the All-Academic squad. Aughinbaugh, Rachel Hubertus, Miller, and Pinto were all selected as NFCA Third Team All-Region honorees, as well. Despite the 2020 campaign getting cut short, the team still garnered five Atlantic 10 weekly awards in just four weeks - freshman Amanda Carey was named Co-Rookie of the Week after the opening weekend, while Aughinbaugh earned one Player of the Week and one Pitcher honor, and freshman Devon Miller was named Rookie of the Week twice. 2019 was another stellar season for the softball program during Inouye's first campaign in charge, as the Rams finished with a 29-26 overall record, 16-6 in league play, and a seventh consecutive, and eighth overall, A-10 title. They added a sixth regular season championship for good measure. In addition to Inouye's Coach of the Year accolade, junior Madie Aughinbaugh was named the league's Pitcher of the Year and the A-10 Championship's Most Outstanding Player for a second consecutive year, plus First Team All-Conference and NFCA Third Team All-Region honors.  Inouye also oversaw tremendous improvement from several of the team's seniors, as Jordy Storm, who had played sparingly prior to that year, was named to the A-10 First Team and NFCA All-Region Second Team. Joining her on the All-Conference squads were senior Maria Trivelpiece (Second Team) and freshmen Makenzie McGrath and Sarah Taffet on the All-Rookie team. Inouye's offense finished with the third-best batting average in program history (.306), fifth-highest slugging percentage (.459), and sixth-highest on-base percentage (.367), while senior Molly Roark's 16 home runs were tied for third-most all-time.    Prior to her return to the Bronx, Inouye spent six years as head coach of the Iona softball program. While in charge of the Gaels, Inouye was named MAAC Coach of the Year on two occasions, including in 2017 after leading the team to the MAAC regular season title with a 15-5 league record and the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC), where Iona defeated Campbell for its first-ever postseason victory. Inouye also took home the MAAC's top coaching honors after leading the program to its sixth conference championship, and a trip to the Seattle NCAA Regional, in 2014.   In nearby New Rochelle, Inouye saw four major awards for her student-athletes, eight First Team All-Conference honorees, 11 Second Team selections, and three All-Rookie nods. Over seven seasons, 69 student-athletes earned MAAC All-Academic distinction. Inouye previously spent one season as an assistant coach at Fordham under Orchard in 2012, working with outfielders and catchers primarily, when the team finished runners-up in the conference standings in a season that included a home win over #3 Alabama in the regular season finale, the program's best win against a nationally-ranked opponent. The Rams finished the season with a 32-26 overall record and 15-6 in league action. Inouye created and directed the team's booster club and served as head travel coordinator, while also graduating from the June 2012 NCAA Women's Coaches Academy.   Prior to her first stint at Fordham, Inouye spent four seasons at Southern Mississippi, where she oversaw the pitching staff and assisted with the defense and hitting. Before that, she served as an assistant coach at Kentucky where she earned her Master's degree in sports leadership. In Lexington, Inouye held several responsibilities, including recruiting coordinator, outfield coach, compliance liaison, co-director of camps, and director of the booster club. Prior to that, Inouye was an assistant coach at Northwestern State and, before that, began her coaching career as a volunteer at her alma mater, UNLV.   Inouye was a two-year starter with the Rebels, playing first base and catcher, and served as a team captain. She was a three-time Academic All-Mountain West selection, a seven-time Dean's List honoree, and earned the Coaches' Award during her senior season. Inouye graduated with her Bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure studies and fitness management.

After serving as the interim head coach for Fordham swimming & diving for the 2023-24 season, Tom Wilkens was promoted to head coach for the 2024-25 season.   Wilkens becomes the 12th full-time head coach in the 99-year history of the Fordham swimming & diving team, which began in 1925.   “I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this team going forward on a permanent basis.  After spending this past season as the interim coach of this outstanding group of student athletes, I realized how much love and passion I have for this great sport, and how much I enjoy being at Fordham University.  I am extremely excited and motivated to build upon the proud tradition of Fordham Swimming and Diving and am looking forward to laying the groundwork for the future success of this program,” said Wilkens.    Under Wilkens, Fordham had a very successful 2023-24 season, as the women’s program posted its third consecutive undefeated dual meet season and finished third at the Atlantic 10 Championship, while the men’s team recorded an 8-1 dual meet record for the second straight year and a sixth-place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship.   Individually, junior Ainhoa Martin won three individual events at the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship and was selected as the Championship’s Most Outstanding Performer.  She also became Fordham’s first NCAA Championship qualifier since 2012, placing 38th in the 200 breaststroke and 56th in the 200 IM.  Junior Jessica Zebrowski was also an Atlantic 10 champion, winning the 100 butterfly event, to earn First Team All-League honors.  The Rams also had four Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selections for the women and set nine school records.   For the men, the Rams had three Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selections at the 2024 Championship, all in the relays, while posting seven new school records throughout the year. In 2024-25, the Rams medaled 10 times at the Atlantic 10 Championship and set two school records.  Ainhoa Martin defended her titles in the 400 IM and 200 breaststroke event, while earning silver in the 200 IM.  Jessica Zebrowski also earned a silver and bronze medal individually in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly events with Christian Taylor earning a pair of bronze medals in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.  The remaining medals came from Leire Martin in the 100 backstroke, as well as the women's 800 freestyle relay and th men's 200 freestyle relay.   “I would like to express my appreciation to the entire staff of the Fordham Athletic Department for their support this past year and for their commitment to me, the Swimming and Diving Program, and all student athletes and coaches here at Rose Hill.  I especially want to give my heartfelt love and thanks to my wife, Stephanie, and my children, Bryce and Kasey, for their unwavering support of me as I dive headfirst into this exciting new venture!”   Wilkens brought a plethora of international, collegiate, and club experience and knowledge to Rose Hill.  As a competitor in the pool, he was the captain of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which won 33 overall medals, accounting for a third of all U.S. medals won at the 2000 Games.  Individually, he earned bronze in the 200-meter individual medley.   Additionally, Wilkens served as USA Swimming National Team captain from 2000-03 and was a World Champion at the 2002 World Championships in Moscow, taking gold in the 400-meter individual medley, setting a new American record in the event.  He also earned multiple gold medals in other international competitions, including the Goodwill Games, World Cup, Pan Pacific Championships, World University Games, and U.S. Open.   A 16-time U.S. National champion, Wilkens was a four-time Kipputh Award Winner, which is given to the high point scorer at the U.S. National Championships.   Wilkens made his name in collegiate swimming at Stanford University, where he was a two-year captain, a five-time NCAA champion, a 16-time All-American selection, and a 10-time Pac-10 champion.  He helped Stanford win the 1998 NCAA Championship, becoming one of only three Stanford swimmers to win three events in a single NCAA Championship.  He was inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame for his collegiate success and was one of 26 swimmers named to the Pac-10 All-Century Swim Team.   As a club and USA Swimming certified coach, Wilkens has worked with the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County since 2016.  He has coached various age group levels from 11-12 through National Team and seen his swimmers become YMCA National Champions, Division I recruits, and Olympic Trials qualifiers.   Wilkens graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science, and lives in New Jersey with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Bryce and Kasey.  Bryce is a freshman on the Fordham men’s swimming team.

Mackenzie Swinehart enters her third season in the Fordham Dugout, after joining the Rams as an assistant coach in August of 2023. Serving as the Rams' first base coach, and outfield coach, Swinehart also assists with batting practice and hitting on the field. On the business side for Fordham Softball, Swinehart assists in the management our social media platforms, coordinating projects with the communications and marketing teams. She also helps in travel coordination planning meals for the Rams and leads the Rams' community service endeavors. In 2025, a trio of players would light up the statsheet throughout the year, with Sydney Wells, Neleh Nogay, and Holly Beeman setting numerous single season records, and as a team also ranked amongst the national leaders in a variety of categories for much of the campaign. Upsetting both the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds at the A-10 Championship in Washington D.C. Fordham would advance to the title game for the first time since winning in 2022, falling in a pair of pitchers duels via walk-offs on championship Sunday. Amongst those players, Wells would tally one of the best offensive seasons in program history, setting single season Top-10 marks in six different categories, including hits, walks, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. At season’s end the Rams took home 10 total All-Conference accolades awarded to seven different players, the second most awards ever for Fordham Softball in a single year. In her first season with the Rams in 2024, Fordham reached the postseason, with the offense clinching all-season long, rattling off the sixth most doubles of any team in the country, and the third most by a Fordham team in program history, with four different players rattling off 12 or more doubles on the year. Prior to her arrival in The Bronx, Swinehart was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame, working with the Fighting Irish for two seasons. Amongst her many responsibilities, Swinehart was tasked with scouting and filming for the Irish, practice and gameday setup, and live hitting and pitching in practice, and comes to Rose Hill with a plethora of knowledge in top scouting programs including Synergy and BATS. In addition, she assisted with hitting and outfield drills, game charting, and oversaw the student-athlete mental health wellness committee for the softball prgram.  In her two years in South Bend, the Fighting Irish amassed an overall record of 70-31-1, including 10 victories over Top-10 opponents. Notre Dame would make an appearance in the NCAA Regionals in each of those seasons, winning a game in each tournament. During her tenure, Swinehart helped coach her players to 18 NFCA All-Region selections, 18 ACC All-Academic nods, and 18 All-ACC Honors. Her time with Notre Dame also saw numerous standout athletics come through the program, including Karina Gaskins, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year, and Carlli Kloss, who was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year last spring, in addition to being named a JWOS First Team All American and NFCA Second Team All American. Prior to coaching with the Fighting Irish, Swinehart was a four-year softball player at Western Michigan University where she set all-time career marks for the program in hits (243) and runs scored (673) and is second all-time with a career .361 batting average. In her time with the Broncos, she was a two-time All-MAC honoree, earning first-team selection in her senior season as well as a second-team nod in 2017, her rookie campaign where she was also named to the MAC All-Freshman team.

Jake Long enters his second season in The Bronx after joining the Fordham Softball staff in July of 2024. Serving as the Rams' dugout coach, Long also helps to lead the infield group, and assists with hitting drills and batting practice. Long also helps to draft scouting reports on the Rams' opponents, and helps to log practice, game and opponent data, using Synergy, 643 Sports, and AWRE Sports. Long is responsible for organizing travel plans for the Rams, booking hotels and transportation throughout the year. In 2025, a trio of players would light up the statsheet throughout the year, with Sydney Wells, Neleh Nogay, and Holly Beeman setting numerous single season records, and as a team also ranked amongst the national leaders in a variety of categories for much of the campaign. Upsetting both the No. 2 and No. 1 seeds at the A-10 Championship in Washington D.C. Fordham would advance to the title game for the first time since winning in 2022, falling in a pair of pitchers duels via walk-offs on championship Sunday. Amongst those players, Wells would tally one of the best offensive seasons in program history, setting single season Top-10 marks in six different categories, including hits, walks, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. At season’s end the Rams took home 10 total All-Conference accolades awarded to seven different players, the second most awards ever for Fordham Softball in a single year. Making his way up the coast from The Sunshine State, Long previously spent two seasons as a Graduate Assistant with the Florida Softball program. During his time in the Sunshine State, he would help the Gators to a 92-37 overall record, winning the SEC Championship in 2024 en route to a WCWS Semifinals appearance. In a historic 2024 campaign, Florida would tally a 54-15 overall record, including 17-7 in SEC contests. After claiming the program’s sixth SEC crown, the Gators would go on an impressive run to the College World Series, taking the three time defending National Champions, Oklahoma to extra innings, but would fall to the Sooners in the WCWS Semifinals. Long’s tenure with the Gators followed a three year stint as both a high school and travel ball coach, training players from 13-18 across those two roles on the offensive and defensive sides, while also helping his athletes in their recruiting processes. Coaching a championship winning team at a Top Gun Maverick Invitational at the U-14 level, Long’s high school assistant coaching role saw his team make the state championship tournament in each of his two years with the team. A four-year varsity pitcher at Regis University in Colorado, Long would make the All-RMAC Honor Roll in multiple semesters, on his way to a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management and Marketing in 2016. Long then completed his Masters of Science in Sports Management this past spring from Florida.

Stuart Vickery has joined the Fordham swimming & diving coaching staff in the Fall of 2025.  Vickey comes to Rose Hill after serving as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Boston University for the 2024-25 season. Prior to BU, Vickery was the assistant swimming coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, for two seasons, where the team won the Northwest Conference Championship for the men in 2023 and the women in 2024.  Individually, he coached Tanner Filion, who went on to become a national champion in the 100 and 200 backstroke events in 2023. Vickery graduated from Boston University in 2022 with a degree in political science and philosophy.  He competed on the swimming team for three years, serving as a team captain and earned All-Patriot League honors in 2019 and 2020 in the 200 butterfly. 

Evan Moretti joined the Fordham coaching staff as a volunteer diving coach. For 2022-23, Fordham saw Millie Haffety become the first female Ram to win a diving event at the Atlantic 10 Championship, earning gold in the three-meter dive.  She and teammate Lilia de Oliveira Pelaez also both qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championship. Moretti comes to Rose Hill after serving as Director of Operations for the Nevada Swimming & Diving Team from 2020-21.  He also was a diving coach at the Nevada Diving Club during that time. Moretti competed at Duke University from 2015 to 2019, where he was a three-time All-American and the 2019 ACC Championship Most Valuable Men's Diver after being named All-ACC in the three-meter dive.  Following his time at Duke, he was a member of the USA Diving National Team and a finalist at the 2020 Olympic Trials. A three-time Duke Swimming & Diving Most Valuable Athlete, he was selected to the ACC Academic Men's Swimming & Diving Team three times, while being a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection. Moretti graduated from Duke with a degree from the Sanford School of Public Policy.