Marywood University Women's Softball

John Butash enters his ninth season as the Marywood University head softball coach. Previously, Butash served as an assistant coach at Marywood from 2014-17. In his first season as Assistant, Butash made an immediate impact with the program, helping guide the Pacers to the 2014 CSAC Championship and an NCAA Division III tournament berth.  Butash coached the NCAA Division III Statistical Champion and Atlantic East Conference Player of the Year (Tori Para) in 2025.  In the 2024 season, the Pacers finished with 24 wins on the season. Marywood made it to the Atlantic East Conference Championship game but unplayable field conditions ended Pacers' softball season as Atlantic East Conference runner-ups.  During the 2023 season, Butash led the Pacers to 27 wins, tied for second most wins in program history after setting the mark in 2022 with 28. The Pacers also finished as Atlantic East Conference runner-ups.  In 2022, Butash led the Pacers to a record-setting season, finishing with a school record 28-wins, an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships and an Atlantic East Conference runner-up finish. Butash and his coaching staff was named 2022 Atlantic East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. From 1990-2010, Butash served as a volunteer Softball Coach with the Throop Booster Club where he coached teams ranging in ages and ability level from T-Ball to U-17.  In addition to his coaching duties with the program, Butash maintained the field in and out of season and organized concession stand volunteers and finances.  He was an active member of the Booster Club during this time.  From 2009-2014, Butash served as the fall Mid Valley Head Softball Coach. Butash received the Excellence in Education Award presented by College Misericordia in 2006 and was acknowledged for dedicated service to the Lourdesmont High School students from 1977-2006 with an Appreciation Award in 2006. In his playing days, Butash was the team captain of the Scranton Prep baseball team and went on to become a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star at the University of Scranton.  Butash graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) and earned a Pennsylvania Certification in Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped from Marywood College in 1986.  In addition to 34 years as an Emotional Support Teacher with NEIU-19 at Lourdesmont High School in Clarks Summit, Butash has been associated with Marywood as a University Supervisor for practicum and student teachers from the Pre-K through High School from 2011-2020, and has taught numerous courses at Marywood both as a Mathematics Instructor (Act 101 program, 1987-2011) and Distance Learning Instructor (1987-91).     Butash’s daughter, Diana, was a key component of Marywood's 2014 CSAC Championship and NCAA tournament team.    THE JOHN BUTASH FILE COACHING EXPERIENCE 2019-Present: Marywood, Head Coach 2014-18: Marywood, Assistant Coach 2012-13: Marywood, Volunteer Assistant Coach 2009-14: Mid Valley High School, Head Coach (Fall Seasons) EDUCATION B.S., Scranton, Secondary Education (Mathematics) MARYWOOD HIGHLIGHTS ECAC Championship (2022) Atlantic East Coaching Staff of the Year (2022) Three-Time Atlantic East Runner-Ups (2022, 2023, 2024) Six NFCA All-Region recipients  One CSC Academic All-American Three NCAA Division III Statistical Champions Seven Atlantic East Major Award winners 40 Atlantic East All-Conference honorees (29 First Team, 15 Second Team) 17 CSC Academic All-District honorees One Atlantic East Elite 20 winner Atlantic East Sportsmanship Team of the Year (2024) One Atlantic East Medal of Inspiration winner 47 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes 4 NFCA All-Academic Teams (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) Winningest Record over a Five-Year Stretch in Program History Single-Season Record for Most Wins (28, 2022) 14 consecutive home wins (2025-26) Coached five consecutive Atlantic East Rooke of the Year recipients YEAR-BY-YEAR Year School Overall Record AEC Record Postseason 2026 Marywood 20-16 7-5 AEC Playoffs 2025 Marywood 19-19 7-3 AEC Playoffs 2024 Marywood 24-16 6-6 AEC Runner-Up 2023 Marywood 27-18 8-4 AEC Runner-Up ECAC Runner-Up 2022 Marywood 28-9 11-1 ECAC Champions AEC Runner-Up 2021 Marywood 9-8 6-6 AEC Playoffs 2020 Marywood 4-4 Covid-19 Shortened Season 2019 Marywood 19-22 4-6 AEC Playoffs 8 Seasons 150-112 (.573) 49-31 (.613)   

Brian Sarafinko enters his ninth season as assistant coach and pitch caller for the Marywood University softball team. 2025 was a rebuilding year and marked the first time in the last four years the Pacer’s did not appear in the AEC Championship game.  Coach Sarafinko teamed with Freshman Pitcher Brianna Voyer, who was selected as the AEC Rookie of the Year.  Building on a strong rookie campaign, Voyer and the Pacers look to head back to the Championship in 2026!     2024 saw Coach Sarafinko call a Gregory thrown masterpiece for the first seven inning perfect game in Marywood softball history.  The team reached the championship against Centenary University who advanced on rainout. Gregory posted an impressive 16 wins, five saves, and a 1.84 ERA. 2023 was another exciting year for Marywood softball.  The team reached the AEC Championship and Sarafinko teamed with pitchers Mara Hamm and Freshman Marissa Gregory to shut down opposing offenses.  Gregory was named AEC Rookie of the year, posting a 15-2 record with a 2.52 ERA.          The 2022 campaign saw Marywood pitchers end their season with an Atlantic East Conference combined best ERA of 2.15, while achieving a university all-time record of 28 wins and only 9 loses. Sarafinko teamed with pitcher Mara Hamm who posted a 15-3 record with a 1.22 ERA on her way to being selected the Atlantic East Pitcher of the Year. Under his guidance, pitcher Giana Marsico posted a third-best conference ERA of 2.66 and ended the season with a record of 12 wins and six losses. A native of the Abington’s, Sarafinko is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and holds a degree in criminal justice from Lackawanna College. In 2021, Sarafinko retired at the rank of Sergeant and was honorably discharged from the Pennsylvania State Police after 25 years of distinguished service. He currently works as a detective for the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, Sarafinko is the Vice President of Operations for the Impact Panthers Travel Softball Organization.    Sarafinko resides in Clarks Summit with his wife Jennifer and three children: Marley, Rocco, and Sonny.  

John DeMatteo was named Assistant Coach for Marywood softbal in the spring of 2022. DeMatteo, a graduate from Pennsylvania State University, brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the program. DeMatteo was an assistant coach for Abington Heights High School softball from 2016-19. At Abington Heights, his Comets teams won a pair of District 2 titles. He founded the Impact Panthers Softball organization in 2009, and he is the current president of the organization that consists of 10U-to-23U teams. He is the current coach of the 14U Elite team. DeMatteo coached in over 900 travel games, compiling over 700 wins, which include five state championships. DeMatteo currently resides in Clarks Summit with his wife Janice and two daughters, Camille and Kaylee.