Trinity College Women's Softball

Lena Springer enters her third season as the head softball coach at Trinity College. The Bantams concluded the 2025 season with an 11–23 overall record, including a 4–14 mark in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play. Postseason accolades highlighted the year, as shortstop Taylor Mikolajczak ’25 earned NESCAC First Team All-Conference honors, finishing her collegiate career as one of the most decorated players in program history. Graduate students Kennedy Rogers, Mikolajczak, Zofia Sargent ’27, Emily Goddard ’27, and Makenna True ’27 were also recognized with College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. In 2024, Springer led the Bantams to a standout season, posting a .617 winning percentage with a 24–15 overall record and a 10–7 mark in conference play. Trinity finished fifth in the NESCAC and made a deep postseason run, defeating No. 4 Colby College, 10–1 (6 innings), in the quarterfinals before upsetting top-seeded Tufts University, 2–0, in the semifinals to secure a berth in the NESCAC Championship game. The Bantams ultimately finished as NESCAC runners-up following a 3–0 loss to No. 3 Williams College. Springer’s success in 2024 was accompanied by significant individual honors. Four Bantams earned spots on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Region I All-Region Team, with Mikolajczak receiving First Team recognition and Tiffany Stowers ’24, Kennedy Rogers ’24, and Gianna Tito ’24 earning Second Team honors. Mikolajczak, Stowers, and Rogers were also named to the All-NESCAC team, with Mikolajczak and Stowers earning First Team honors and Rogers selected to the Second Team. Additionally, five Bantams were named to the 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team: Erin Girard ’24, Mikolajczak, Lizzie Nelson ’26, Abigail Alper ’26, and Kaysen Shikar ’26. Springer joined Trinity after serving as the pitching coach at the University of Texas at El Paso for two seasons. She previously held the same role at Delaware State University for two years, following a season as an assistant coach with the Bantams in 2019. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Springer earned her bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice studies in 2017 before completing a master’s degree in sports administration at Delaware State. As a student-athlete with the Buckeyes, Springer competed in two NCAA Tournaments and finished her senior season with an 8–4 record in the circle, a 2.74 ERA, and 74 innings pitched. A New Britain, Conn. native, she also attended the University of Central Florida and competed in the 2014 NCAA Championship Tournament. Springer was a member of the Puerto Rican Junior National Team at the 2013 World Championships in Toronto. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she coached at Olentangy Liberty High School in Ohio and served as a pitching instructor at The Diamond Club in East Hartford, Conn. Springer comes from a strong athletic lineage. Her mother, Laura Springer, and father, George Springer Jr., competed in gymnastics and football, respectively, at the University of Connecticut. Her sister, Nicole Springer, played softball at Central Connecticut State University. Her brother, George Springer III, was the 11th overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, a 2017 World Series Champion with the Houston Astros, and currently plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Moustafa Hamada enters his third season as Trinity College Head Men’s Squash Coach for the 2025-26 season.   During his tenure at Trinity, Hamada has coached six All-American selections, 11 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference honorees, and back-to-back NESCAC Players of the Year in Mohamed Sharaf (2024) and Joachim Chuah Han Wen (2025).   Last season, the Bantams logged a 13-4 record en route to their 18th straight NESCAC Men’s Squash Championship. The Bantams earned a berth in the CSA Potter Cup National Championship Tournament, defeating the University of Virginia (7-2) in the Quarterfinals before falling to the University of Pennsylvania, 9-0, in the Semifinals. Hamada and his staff received NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors for the second straight season.   In his first season, Trinity posted a 19-1 record, including a 9-0 victory over Tufts in the NESCAC Men’s Squash Championship match for the program’s 17th conference crown. The Bantams advanced to the Potter Cup Finals for the 24th time in program history, but fell to UPenn, 7-1. Hamada became the second coach in program history to earn NESCAC Coach of the Year honors   Hamada, a former Trinity captain who helped the Bantams win two CSA National titles, returned to Trinity as an assistant coach in the spring of 2022 and played a pivotal role in the Bantams' CSA National Team Championship runner-up finish.  Hamada previously served as an assistant men's squash coach at Princeton University from 2018 to 2022, helping the Tigers finish among the nation's top eight teams each year and he has coached numerous top-level clubs and teams of all ages, including stints with both the United States National Team and the Egyptian National Team.  Hamada earned his bachelor's degree from Trinity in 2015 as a political science major, and was a four-year starter for the Bantam men's squash squad.  He helped Trinity win four NESCAC titles, National crowns in 2013 and 2015, and is tied for seventh all-time at the college with 66 career wins against just 12 losses. 

Lauren Patrizio enters her second season as Head Women's Squash Coach for the 2025-26 season.   In her first season with the Bantams, Patrizio guided Trinity to the program’s second-straight College Squash Association (CSA) National Championship, and fifth overall National Championship in program history. The Bantams captured a 5-4 victory over second-ranked Harvard University in the 2025 Howe Cup Finals, capping an 18-1 season for Trinity. The Bantams nabbed their 18th straight New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women’s Squash Championship, sweeping all three matches en route to the conference crown. Trinity earned four CSA All-American selections, six NESCAC All-Conference and the 2025 NESCAC Player of the Year (Jana Safy). Patrizio joined Trinity after serving as Head Coach at Mount Holyoke for the 2023-24 season. Patrizio guided the Lyons to an 8-11 record in their debut season in the Liberty League, earning a fifth-seed in the Liberty League Championship Tournament. Mount Holyoke fell to fourth-seeded Haverford in the Quarterfinals, but claimed fifth place after multiple wins in the consolation bracket The Lyons earned a berth in the CSA Team Championship in the Walker Cup.   As a student-athlete, Patrizio was a two-time All-American at the University of Pennsylvania. Patrizio was part of a historic 1999-2000 season for the Quakers, where they won their first Ivy League Championship en route to the program’s first National Championship, defeating Princeton, 5-4, in the Howe Cup Final. Patrizio served as co-captain for UPenn during the 2000-01 season, earning All-Ivy League honors.   Patrizio is founder of SquashDrive, established in 2010 and served as the Executive Director until 2020. Based out of Oakland, California, SquashDrive enables East Bay students to reach their full academic, athletic and personal potential through an integrated program of academic tutoring, squash instruction, and character building. SquashDrive is a Member Program of the Squash + Education Alliance.  

Hannah Hagy enters her fourth season as Trinity College's head men's and women's swimming and diving coach for the 2025-26 season.  During her first three seasons, Hagy holds a 19-14 record with the Women’s team and a 10-20 mark with the Men’s squad.   During her tenure, the Bantams have earned 24 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selections and both the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving team have claimed three straight College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American team.   Hagy returned to Hartford after spending 11 months as an assistant swimming and diving coach at Case Western Reserve University, where she was instrumental in the success of the swimming and diving program, which sent two swimmers and a diver to the NCAA Division III Championship Meet in 2022.  She was heavily involved in organizing and executing practices and training and played a major role in recruiting efforts.  She was an equally vital member of the Trinity swimming and diving staff during her stint as an assistant coach and assistant aquatics director from 2018-2021.  Hagy was also a member of the Athletics Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committees at both Trinity and Case Western.  A highly-decorated college swimmer, Hagy was a team captain, two-time NCAA Qualifier, and a Division III All-American at the University of Mary Washington, where she graduated with honors in 2016 with a degree in mathematics.  She earned her master's degree from Trinity in public policy in 2020.  Hagy has additional experience as a swim coach at Machine Aquatics, for the Hunt Valley swim team, and locally at the Masters level in Hartford.  Prior to Trinity, she was a math teacher in her native state of Virginia.

Stephen Hoyt Jr. enters his third season as the Trinity College men's and women's swimming and diving team assistant coach for the 2023-24 season. Hoyt brings 18 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience to the Bantam staff.  He was a two-year captain at McDaniel College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in history.  Hoyt has coached at Pine Brook Swim Club, with the town of Glastonbury, and at Glastonbury High School, one of the most highly-regarded programs in the State of Connecticut.

The Trinity College softball team has announced the hiring of Kaitlin Paterson as an assistant coach in June on 2023. Paterson comes to Trinity from Smith College, where she served an assistant coach from 2021 to 2023 while earning her master's degree in exercise and sport studies.  She is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in strategic communication. Paterson was a four-year letterwinner and a team captain on the diamond for the Blue Devils, earning numerous CCSU Scholar-Athlete awards and making the Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2021.  She also won a Northeast Conference Gold Glove and received all-conference honors in 2021.  Paterson assisted in all aspects of the Smith softball program and has also coached with the Connecticut Eliminators club program since 2017.  She helped Southington High School win three Connecticut State titles and was a basketball and softball captain.

Jeannette Dellaripa begins her sixth year as the Trinity diving coach in 2023-24, continuing an extensive and successful coaching career. She and her husband David, current Trinity assistant diving coach, have together coached a variety of high school teams including, South Windsor, EO Smith/Tolland, East Catholic, Manchester, and many other Connecticut divers from Avon, Conard, East Lyme, Glastonbury, Hall, Kings Wood Oxford, Loomis Chaffee, Newington, Windsor, and others through their AAU and summer diving programs/teams. Dellaripa is a retired teacher and has been a fitness instructor for numerous organizations throughout the years.  She was the interim diving coach at the University of Connecticut where she also received her bachelor's degree and her master's degree in education. While a student-athlete at UConn, Dellaripa was a scholarship diver who enjoyed a decorated career. She was a three-time National Qualifier and New England Champion. Dellaripa holds the school record in both the one- and three-meter diving events at UConn's Brundage Pool, as well as multiple other pools and springboard diving conferences.  

Paul Assaiante completed his 30th season as Trinity College Head Men's Squash Coach in 2022-23, having guided the Bantams to a 17-5 record, its 16th consecutive NESCAC Championship title, and to the College Squash Association (CSA) National Team (Potter Trophy) Championship Finals. He announced his retirement in March of 2023 but continues to work in the Trinity athletic department assisting with special projects. Since retiring from coaching, Assaiante has remained involved with Trinity Athletics and was part of the Men’s Squash program’s 18th National Championship in 2025–26, as the Bantams completed a perfect 19-0 season, their 17th perfect season in program history. The team earned four First-Team All-Americans, five All-NESCAC selections, NESCAC Player of the Year honors for Joachim Chuah, and CSA Coaching Staff of the Year recognition. Chuah also received the 2026 CSA Skillman Award. Assaiante was also part of back-to-back College Squash Association Howe Cup National Championships for the Trinity Women’s Squash Team in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The 2023-24 squad completed an undefeated season with two athletes named CSA All-Americans — Jana Safy (First Team) and Lulu Palacios (Second Team). In 2024-25, four more Bantams earned All-American honors: Malak Moustafa became the 11th three-time First Team All-American; Jana Safy became the 13th player in program history to earn All-American status four times; Hannah Chukwu picked up her second All-American honor, becoming the 51st player in program history to receive multiple All-American designations; and Noa Romano earned her first All-American recognition. The Trinity Women’s squash program has tallied five Howe Cup National Championships, including their 18th consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference titles.  Trinity had won back-to-back Potter Trophy Championships in 2017 and 2018, downing Harvard in both CSA Finals to increase its national title total to 17 crowns in a 22-year span.  In 2014-15, Assaiante brought the Bantams to the CSA National Championship Finals for the 19th year in a row, and his charges came through with a win against St. Lawrence in the finals. Trinity had a 20-1 final dual-match record and Assaiante was co-winner of Trinity's Athletic Department Coach of the Year Award that year.  In 2012-13, Trinity won all 19 of its matches and downed Harvard  in the CSA Finals to give the Bantams their 14th national crown in 15 years. In the 2022-23 season, Assaiante came within a point of winning an 18th Potter Trophy title, but the Bantams lost, 5-4, to Harvard in the final match.  Trinity entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and knocked off No. 3-seeded Princeton and No. 2-seeded Penn in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.  The Harvard match came down to the very end, as the Bantams fell just short of the title in their 20th CSA Finals appearance since 1997.  In the 2023 CSA National Singles Championships, Assaiante guided Mohamed Sharaf to the Pool "A" Division National title, giving Trinity four players and six total Pool Trophy champs in his tenure (Marcus Cowie twice, Bernardo Samper, Baset Chaudhry twice, Sharaf).  In all, Assaiante-coached squads have boasted 96 All-NESCAC selections and will total 47 All-Americans when those selections are announced. Assaiante coached Trinity to the 2013 national crown without a single First-Team All-American selection on the roster, and was rewarded with the 2013 NESCAC Coach of the Year award and a Trinity College Trustee of Excellence Award.  Assaiante guided the Bantams to 13 consecutive CSA National titles from 1999 to 2011 and 252 wins in a row before a 5-4 loss at Yale in January of 2012 closed the book on the longest winning streak in the history of intercollegiate varsity sports. Assaiante was previously the NESCAC Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. He is 507-29 all-time as the Bantam head coach. The team’s unprecedented winning streak, which began in 1998, captivated Trinity and beyond -- followed by major media outlets across the globe and the nation, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, the New York Times, and the Hartford Courant. The history of the team will forever remain a legendary piece of history at Trinity College, where squash has been enthusiastically embraced. The team remains one of the most feared in college sports. From 1999-2003 and again from 2010 to present, Assaiante coached both the United States Squash Team, which dominated the 2019 Pan American Games with five gold medals this summer, and the USA Men's Team, which finished a best-ever sixth in the World Championships in Germany in 2011. Twice named the United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year, Assaiante was named one of Connecticut’s top sports coaches of the 20th century by The Hartford Courant and earned an award from the Hartford Business Bureau for his outstanding contribution to sports in the city. Assaiante also coached the U.S. Junior Team to an eighth-place finish in the 2012 World Championships in Qatar and the USA Men to an 11th-place showing in France.  Assaiante coached the Trinity men's tennis squad for 19 seasons, notching a 188-97 career record with the Bantams.  His tennis teams were consistently ranked both regionally and nationally, and he earned NESCAC and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Regional Men's Tennis Coach of the Year in 2008. Assaiante served as the director of athletic development at Trinity for seven years, spearheading the College’s effort to upgrade its athletic facilities. He played a pivotal role in the athletic department's fund-raising efforts, which produced two new synthetic outdoor fields, the nation’s premier squash facility, a new boathouse, and a community ice skating center for the College. In all, more than $11 million was raised with ongoing projects that include new baseball and softball diamonds and a new field house.  Trinity’s remodeled tennis courts were christened as the Paul D. Assaiante Tennis Center in the fall of 2010.  He currently serves as the college's associate director of athletic endowments, and was promoted to full professor of physical education in the summer of 2017.  Assaiante is a 1974 graduate of Springfield College and holds a master's degree from Long Island University. His coaching experience includes stints at Army for eight seasons with a record of 98-54 and at Williams College from 1987 to 1989, where he was 13-10 to give him a 601-85 overall career varsity record. He was also a squash professional at the world-famous Princeton Club of New York and director of racquet sports at the Baltimore Country Club, the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y., and the Bellevue Athletic Club in Seattle, Wash. Assaiante's professional athletic career was nothing short of spectacular. He won the World Hardball Doubles Championship in 1988. He was one-half of the U.S. national doubles championship duo in 1994 and captured the USSRA 50-and-over men's squash title in 2004. Assaiante is also an author of Championship Tennis by the Experts: How to Play Championship Tennis, with Vic Braden (Human Kinetics Publishers, June 1981) and Run to the Roar: Coaching to Overcome Fear with James Zug (Penguin).