Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Women's Softball

The most successful coach in women’s athletics at Mansfield, Edith Gallagher is entering her 35th season at the helm of the Mansfield Mountaineer softball program in 2026. Since taking over the head coaching job in 1992, she directed the Mountaineers to eight postseason berths and won three ECAC Championships while producing 62 All-PSAC selections. Gallagher is the first women's coach in school history to achieve the 300, 400, and 500 win milestones. Under Gallagher’s watch, 31 school records have been set, including a school-best 10 game winning streak in 1992 and five individual records in 1999. She was named Mansfield University Employee of the Year in April of 2016. 2025 brought exciting moments throughout the season. Annabella Putnam became the next pitcher to ink her name in the history books, finishing fifth in program history in appearances (73), sixth in innings (345.0), sixth in strikeouts (272), tied ninth in complete games (33), and tied for ninth in shutouts (4), while finishing fourth all-time in single season history in strikeouts (108), tied for eighth in appearances (24), and ninth in innings (126.1). Melissa Demo finished fourth all time in program history with 29 stolen bases and tied sixth with 146 appearances. With their series win over Millersville, that brought their first over the Marauders since 2015 with two walk-off wins on Helen Lutes Field and the first PSAC day sweep since 2021, which was also against Millersville. The 2024 campaign saw Gallagher reached the 500 career victories mark after the season finale stunner over Shippensburg. Kayla Vonstein was named to the All-PSAC Conference Second Team and Danielle Goff finished her historic career in the record books, with five top ten rankings in program career records including 444.1 innings (3rd), 85 appearances (3rd), 287 strikeouts (4th), 40 complete games (4th), and five shutouts (T-6th) To highlight the 2023 saeason, Danielle Goff became the fourth Mountie in program history to eclipse 100 strikeouts during the season. In 2022, senior Lacey O'Donnell continued the Mountaineers run of all-league athletes after she was named to the 2nd-Team All-PSAC East as an outfielder.  In 2021, the first full season following the COVID-19 pandemic, Snyder again brought home 1st-Team honors, this time as a shortstop, while senior Hannah Breitigan earned her first All-PSAC honor as a 2nd-Team Utility Player. In 2019, Gallagher lead the Mounties to an 11-7-1 PSAC Central record, earning their first postseason berth since 2014. Oufielders Joelle Snyder and Ali McGovern each earned 1st-Team All-PSAC. 2016 was the season where coach Gallagher earned her 400th career victory. During the 2014 season, Gallagher led the Mountaineers to their second straight PSAC Tournament berth and the first NCAA Regional Tournament berth in program history. Mansfield, the seventh seed, won its first NCAA Tournament game in school history with a 9-5 victory over sixth-seeded IUP. Following the historic season, Gallagher was named PSAC East Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year. Senior Kate Pratt once again picked up PSAC East Player of the Year honors and was named Daktronics 1st Team All-Region, PSAC Top 10, MU Spring Female Athlete of the Year and Capitol One Academic All-American. Pratt, Stephanie Simmeth and Courtney Bauder were named to All-PSAC and ECAC Division II accolades with Simmeth earning NFCA All-Region honors. Gallagher led Mansfield to its first PSAC Central division title in program history in 2013 after the Mountaineers posted an 11-5 divisional record. Following the season, Gallagher was named PSAC Central Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. The 2013 squad featured the PSAC Central Athlete and Freshman of the Year along with three All-PSAC Central selections. In 2009, Gallagher directed the Mountaineers to their first PSAC playoff berth in school history with a team that featured just one senior. In 2005 the team's mark of 21-22 was the fifth straight 20+ win season and included the 250th win of her career.  The team's batting average of .303 was second in the PSAC East.   Between 2001 and 2005, Gallagher led the Mountaineers to a 111-117-1 overall mark with two consecutive appearances in the ECAC title game, winning the ECAC Championship in 2004. In 2004, Gallagher guided the Mountaineers to their fifth ECAC Championship berth and second ECAC Division II title in her tenure. It marked the sixth time a Gallagher coached team has won 20 or more games in a season. Her 1994 team posted a 23-15 overall record, earning the right to host the ECAC Championship. The Mountaineers finished second in the championship after dropping two one-run games to Gannon. In her first season in 1992, she piloted the Mounties to the best winning percentage in school history (.803) with a 26-6-1 record. Gallagher’s squad also brought home the team’s second-straight ECAC championship with an 8-5 win over LIU-Southampton in the title game. An assistant coach in both softball and field hockey at Mansfield during the 1990-91 academic year, Gallagher took over the head coaching duties of both sports in 1992. She turned over the reigns of the field hockey program following the 1993 season. A 1990 graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in health and physical education, she was a four-year letter winner in both field hockey and softball for the Pride. Gallagher earned all-conference and All-American honors her senior season.  Gallagher earned a Masters in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2004.  Gallagher was inducted into the CT Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005 and in 2008 was inducted into the Hofstra University Athletic Hall of Fame.    Gallagher is currently serving on the NCAA National Softball Rules Committee and has served on the NCAA Division II Softball Committee including a three-year stint as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chairperson   Year Overall Record Conference Record 1992 26-6-1 7-5* ECAC Champions 1993 7-11 5-7* ECAC Champions 1994 23-15 6-5 1995 10-32 4-20 1996 9-30 6-18 1997  10-26 7-17 1998 12-23 5-19 1999 19-19 9-15 2000 21-19 11-13 2001 11-19 8-16 2002 19-21 12-12 2003 20-18 11-13* ECAC Playoffs 2004 27-15 11-11 ECAC Champions 2005 24-13-1 11-12-1 ECAC Runner-up 2006 21-22   7-19 2007 7-30 4-18 2008 13-20 7-17* PSAC Playoffs 2009 14-20 6-10 2010 12-16 3-13 2011 11-17 4-11 2012 20-15 7-9 2013 25-15 11-5* PSAC Central Co-Champion, PSAC Playoffs 2014 24-19 15-13* NCAA Tournament, PSAC Playoffs 2015 12-24-1 7-21 2016 15-22 7-13 2017 21-14 9-9 2018 11-16 7-13 2019 17-15-1 11-7-1 PSAC Playoffs 2020 6-4 0-0 Season shortened due to COVID-19 2021 5-27 5-27 2022 5-23 1-15 2023 10-34 1-31 2024 13-29 4-28 2025 8-32 6-26 Total 508-681-4 235-488-2

Mike Pearson was named the next head football coach for the Mansfield Sprint Football program on Jan. 27, 2026. Pearson comes to Mansfield after serving as head coach at Williamsport High School since 2022.     Pearson has prior experience working in the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL), as well as experience at the NCAA DII and DIII, and high school levels. In the CSFL he started the program and served as head coach at Chestnut Hill from 2015-18.    Pearson also served on Mansfield's sprint football staff from 2011-14.  Pearson is also a Pennsylvania High School Football Association State Representative and Pennsylvania Big 33 Committee Member.  He has served as the PIAA District IV Football Coaches Association Vice President since 2023. 

Quaker joins the staff for his first year as an assistant sprint football coach in 2024.

Leonard returns for a 2nd season coaching running backs.  Bringing 20+ years of coaching experience at local high schools :Elmira Notre Dame, Watkins Glen, Odessa Montour  and most recently as Varsity Head Coach at  Cowanesque Valley.   Leonard earned a Bachelors Degree from SUNY Oneonta  

Struble enters his second year for the Mounties, joining the staff in 2024 as the offensive line coach. Coach Struble began his coaching career as the defensive coordinator at Odessa-Montour from 2010–2014 before serving as co-defensive coordinator for the Seneca Indians in 2015. From 2016–2019, he coached at Elmira, working with the linebackers, serving as defensive coordinator, and leading the junior varsity program. He then moved on to Cornell University Sprint Football, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2020–2021. Most recently, he served as defensive coordinator for Corning-Painted Post’s junior varsity team from 2022–2023. In addition, Coach Struble gained head coaching experience at Notre Dame High School, further shaping his ability to lead programs at a high level. He is deeply thankful for the ongoing support of his wife, family, and friends throughout his coaching career and is excited to help continue building the Mansfield program.

 Berger returns for his second season on the Mansfield University football coaching staff in 2025, serving as the Defensive Line Coach. A former standout student-athlete for the Mountaineers. Berger began his coaching career at Mansfield during the 2023 season, transitioning seamlessly from player to coach. His experience as a two-year captain and high-impact defender has helped guide and develop the next generation of Mountaineer linemen. A 2022 graduate of Mansfield  with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Berger had a decorated playing career as a four-year contributor on the defensive side of the ball. He appeared in 29 games from 2018 to 2022, totaling 117 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 interceptions, and numerous impact plays across his career. In his senior season (2022), Berger was named to the CSFL All-Academic Team and earned Honorable Mention All-CSFL honors. He recorded 30 total tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, with a career-high eight tackles against Navy. As a junior in 2021, Berger started all eight games, racking up 36 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles, he earned First Team All-CSFL honors .  In 2019, he earned First Team Honorable mention -CSFL honors after totaling 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries across seven games.  He ranked 20th in the league in sacks as a sophomore in 2018. A native of Wyomissing, Pa., Berger is a 2017 graduate of Wyomissing High School.

Czako enters her third season as the assistant Mansfield softball coach in 2025. The 2024 campaign saw the team help Head Coach Edith Gallagher reach the 500 career victories mark after the season finale stunner over Shippensburg. Kayla Vonstein was named to the All-Conference Second Team and Danielle Goff finished her historic career in the record books, placing in numerous top ten categories.  Czako's first year as an assistant was the 2021 season, where Joelle Snyder again brought home 1st-Team honors, this time as a shortstop, and senior Hannah Breitigan earned her first All-PSAC honor as a 2nd-Team Utility Player. As A Student (Jess Ricker) Ricker was a four-year starter for the Mansfield University softball program under head coach Edith Gallagher from 2000-03. Over that span, Ricker started all 147 games at third base and became the first in Mansfield softball history to earn All-PSAC honors in each of her four seasons: 1st Team All-PSAC East honors (2003, 2000) 2nd Team All-PSAC East honors (2002, 2001) In addition to her All-PSAC honors: All-Atlantic Region selection in 2003 MU Female Spring Athlete of the Year in 2002 All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South honors in (2003, 2002, 2000)